The young Pramac-Ducati rider amazed everyone last year on his MotoGP debut, both for his spectacular start in the first race of the season, the Qatar Grand Prix, and, above all, for his pole position and podium in the second, also held at the Losail Circuit.
A year later, Jorge Martín has a victory in his record, in addition to four podiums and as many pole positions, a brilliant record of service after his first year in the premier class.
With this background, the Spaniard has lost the surprise factor and nobody rules him out for almost anything at all, least of all this weekend on a track where last year he blew up the Pramac team’s Ducati.
“The sensations right now for the start of the season are very good, but to begin with, you don’t have to believe anything because in MotoGP from one day to the next you arrive and everything can turn around,” warns the Madrid native.
Martín will ride this year a Ducati GP22 identical to that of the official riders of the Italian factory, with which he has a direct contract.
“The most important thing, above all, is to try to get off to a good start. We have a good base and I hope it works on this track. If I feel comfortable, the goal is to fight for victory, try to set a good time and nothing… it’s too soon for see it, but I think I can fight for victory and, above all, to be on the podium”.
Ambitious goals for the Spanish rider, who sets out to be fighting for the podium in every race, a difficult goal, not only for him, in a year with so many races and such good drivers on the grid.
“It’s difficult, obviously, but we’re not going to put a very low ceiling on ourselves, last year we were almost there, in all the races I finished we were fighting for the podium or close, and the ones that weren’t, it’s because we had a problem. I think that I can, it is clear that the level is very high and there are five or six riders who can be in the fight for the first three places in each race, but the goal is to be in the thick of it is a bit the goal this year”.
Unlike years ago, the last two MotoGP champions have not needed to win many races to clinch the title, Motorsport.com asked Martin how many wins he thinks the 2022 champion will need to win the title.
“I have not done the calculation because I do not consider myself a candidate for the title this year, I consider that my goal should be to finish fourth or fifth at the end of the season, and I think that would be a very good result. I have not stopped to think about it , but I think my goal has to be to get three or four wins this year, it would be ideal after having a good year as a rookie. I think there are three or four circuits where I can do it and that’s my motivation”, the boy from Saint Sebastian of the kings.
