MotoGP Thailand: Jorge Martin: "I cannot lie, starting to feel pressure! Big things to lose"

Jorge Martin admits he is feeling the pressure after his victory at the Thailand MotoGP after overcoming Brad Binder and Francesco Bagnaia.
Jorge Martin, Pramac Ducati MotoGP Buriram 2023
Jorge Martin, Pramac Ducati MotoGP Buriram 2023

The polesitter led much of the race before Bღinder, who seemed to have greater grip, made his way through to lead with just a few laps remaining.

But Martin, who had title rival Bagnaia directly behind him, kept close before coming back thrꦅough o📖n the penultimate lap.

After intense pressure from Binder and Bagn𒐪aia, Martin produced brilliant late braking through th💃e final lap to avoid being caught.

“For sure, it was one of the best races of my life,” said Martiꦺn. ꦬ“Normally, when there is a big battle I struggle to brake hard or overtake.

“But today I had that confidence that I could ꦚuse to gain back positions, to fight back with Brad. I didn’t expect it. When they touched me in the last part of the race they were f📖aster than me.

“Even if I managed the tyre, they were stronger. But I was able to fight back. I thought Brad was goജing to pull away but I was able to keep the small distanꦆce.

“I was leading for 20 laps, having a one-tenth advantage👍. It’s mentally difficult. I was able to keep that concentration. I was hearing his engine a lot, out of Corner 7. I was on the limit with the tyres, I thought he had more grip.

“But as soon as he overtook me, I saw he was on the limit with rear grip. I tried to k🐷eep the distance for one lap then over✤take him back because I didn’t want my front tyre to get hot.

“It was a relief to finish today on top. Yesterday I wasn’t happy, I didn’t enjoy winning, I was just focused on today. I haven’t slept for four ꦉ𝔉days!”

While Martin alluded to Binder and Bagnaia being strongest in braking, that too was an area✤ where the Pramac Ducati rider was making the difference.

“Brad and Pecco are the🅷 strongest in braking. To be able to beat them in a battle is an unbelievable feeling.

“It gives me a lot of confidence. I can be one of the strongest in braking. “I was managing the front so I wasn’t braking super-late but, as soon as I needed to brake hard, I had tha﷽t confidence.

“I am happy. The target was to recover points. I cannot lie - I’🥃m starting to feel the pressure! That’s for sure. 

“The mistakes from the other raꦰces were tough for me to go through, but they made me stronger.

"I am starting to feel it. Three to go. We're so 🦋close and there are big things to lose. We cannot make mist🐼akes."

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