The rivalry between Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín is red hot and has been for some time, but last season it took on new proportions, which continue this year and even off the track the exchange of words continues.
In the preview of the round in Motegi and after the first day of work, Martín was asked about how he saw his opponent on the track, recalling and reaffirming that the Italian is indeed his biggest rival, something he had already said before: ‘Strong. The truth is that I saw him well, Pecco is always going to be, at this moment, my main rival and he is always going to be strong, that was already clear. But it is true that I saw him a little stronger than in Indonesia’, according to Motosan.
And in response to the words of the world champion, who expressed a desire to be stronger in Japan this year, Martín replied by remembering himself and how he only has to show on the track what he is worth: ‘Well, he’s always going see himself better than me, he’s going to try to do better than me, I’ve already done it twice, but in the end I focus on what I can do, which is to ride. If he gives his all, then we’ll fight on the track’. Martín then explained that he can improve himself, since he doesn’t have the best feelings:
– Yes, I think in terms of feelings I’m not very good and, even so, I managed to be fast and not just in one lap. The pace wasn’t bad either. So, if I can take that step, I can improve the pace and, if not, I think this pace is already good enough to fight for the victory, but the feelings are still not the best.