Jorge Martin’s Late Push Falls Short Despite Confidence in Winning Potential; Marquez Unfazed by Podium Miss, Acosta Impresses
Jorge Martin had a thrilling finish at the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix, setting his best lap on the penultimate lap as he chased down Brad Binder for second place. After winning the sprint race on Saturday, Martin started from pole but lost the lead to Francesco Bagnaia early in the race.
Although he achieved a podium finish, the Prima Pramac rider showed mixed satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the result. Martin admitted that if he had kept a higher pace from the start, he could have challenged Bagnaia for the win. He pointed out that the early-race tire-saving strategy ultimately affected his performance after Bagnaia overtook him.
“I’m happy with the result. If you asked me yesterday, it would be very difficult to be on the podium today, but maybe we had the chance to win. I’m not 100% satisfied. I think I did very well with the tires at the beginning of the race, then Pecco overtook me, everything has changed a lot because the initial pressure has increased a little bit,” Martin said.
The driver emphasized that although he has not yet fully explored the potential of the new engine, he believes that the improvements can make them more competitive. Already focusing on the next race in Portimão, Martin hopes to get more positives out of the new machine.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, who made his official Ducati debut, showed no disappointment at not being on the podium in Qatar. The eight-time world champion faced Jorge Martin in a fierce battle for third place, but was unable to defeat the Prima Pramac rider.
Marquez acknowledged Martin’s efforts and remains optimistic despite falling off the podium. He emphasized that the team needs more time to get the best performance out of the bike and believes in the potential for growth throughout the season.
“Jorge was in front the whole race. He was very fast and he deserved this podium. I tried to pass him in the last laps but I couldn’t. I’m happy though. We need more time to make the most of the race. , and I think that the team is capable of this. We will continue to work to improve,” commented Marquez.
Meanwhile, young talent Pedro Acosta impressed on his top-flight debut. Despite this being his first season in MotoGP, Acosta showed his skill and maturity as he raced against a highly competitive field.
Acosta’s solid performance bodes well for a promising future and raises expectations for his potential in motorcycling’s premier category. Since it is still early in the season, fans are excited to see how Acosta will develop throughout the league.
