Jorge Martin Is A Secret Favourite For The 2023 MotoGP Title And Here's Why
Categories: MotoGP
2023 will be Jorge Martin’s third season in MotoGP. The Spaniard is considered a secret favourite and is “on point to fight” for the first time.
After last year’s season did not start according to plan for Jorge Martin, there were some bright spots for the young Spaniard towards the end of the season, especially in qualifying.
Martin is likely to be one of the extended group of favourites for 2023. For the first time, the 24-year-old will start a MotoGP season “on point to fight”.
After his serious crash in Portimao in the second race of the season, 2021 was all about recovery for Martin.
“In 2021 I wasn’t [at] 100% during the season, last year I felt better at the end. This year, everything will be on point to fight.”
Thanks to factory support for the Pramac Ducati team, the Spaniard will find himself on the latest-spec Desmodici in 2023, presumably one of the bikes that will fight for the title.
Martin can hardly wait for the new season to start: “I am super-excited to start this season. We will be super-competitive and it will be a season to enjoy.”
The 2018 Moto3 World Champion knows that he has already made massive progress in his first two seasons in the premier class.
He wants to put right the mistakes he made last year, especially in the race. “I am a much more mature rider now. I try to understand every pass that I do. I will improve.”
What makes Martin a secret favourite is the introduction of sprint races. Short, qualifying-like races that can be run with little consideration for tyres and material.
Last year, the Spaniard already proved his ability to do exactly that – one or more fast laps during one qualifying stint.
It is not for nothing that he has already taken ten pole positions in his still-young MotoGP career. In 2023, Martin will try to build on that statistic.
Jorge Martin's late-season qualifying form put him in front of Fabio Quartararo in the pole position percentage ranking 📈🔥#MotoGP | #MGP1 pic.twitter.com/wcS11lejaQ
— MGP1 (@mgp1official) November 16, 2022
First, however, it is important not to lose focus, especially since rumours have been circulating in recent weeks that the MotoGP race winner could switch to the Yamaha factory team in 2024.
He is not averse to a move, but as far as personnel is concerned, “we’ll have to wait and see”.
Martin clarifies: “The main thing is to focus on the season, to battle for wins and for the title if possible. Then afterwards we will think about moving or not.”
“We will focus on ourselves, trying to win races. I have a good group, this is my third year at Pramac, my first time being more than two years on a team.”
