Martin was one of three riders to use the soft rear tyre, and although he managed it near perfection, the Pramac rider ran out of grip with🎃 two laps remainin๊g.

Slowly being caught wit🐭h five laps to go, it wasn’t until the penultimate lap that Martin was losing huge amounts of time with every passi❀ng sector.

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Mar༒tin was then overtaken by team-mate Johann Zarco at the start of la𝕴p 27, which began a slide down to fifth.

But speaking a🦹fter the race, Martin’s team manager Borsoi defended his rider and more importantly the tyre choice. 

“I’m fully in support of my rider,” said Borsoi. “It was our deꦛcision. We will neveꦉr give up and we have a lot of races in front of us. 

“He showed inꦓcredible speed all weekend and he is the best rider on track. He lost the race with only one😼 lap to go. He made incredible qualifying and tomorrow is another day. 

“Then we have eight races in front of us.”

With two laps to go it appeared as though Zarco would be able to help Martin stay out front ༒aft🌄er overtaking Brad Binder. 

But even with the overtake, Zarco continued tඣo gain on Martꦰin before having no choice but to pass his team-mate to avoid being attacked himself.

It was clear that without ✃the grip woes Martin would likely have won the race, but nonetheless, Borsoi continued to back the tyre decision.

“It was not a huge gamble. It was our decisꦜion and the decision of the team. It is what it is. We will see in the next race.”