Jorge Martin: MotoGP "could race even with" Brazil track hole

The Brazilian MotoGP Sprint was heavily delayed in Goiania due to track maintenance, but Jorge Martin saw little issue with the condition of the track.

The whole afternoon schedule on Saturday was adjusted after a hole emerged on the start-finish straight at the Goiania circuit that is hosting the first Brazilian MotoGP race since 2004 this weekend.

Moto2 qualifying was eventually moved to Sunday morning, and the MotoGP Sprint started at 16:20 local time, having been originally scheduled for 15:00, in order to allow time for track work to take place in order to fix the hole.

The hasty repairs ultimately played no part in the the course of the Sprint, although Jorge Martin said afterwards that the length of the delay meant it was hard to keep his concentration. He also said, slightly lightheartedly, that the position of the hole, away from the racing line, meant it was not a problem for MotoGP riders.

“It’s not easy to keep the concentration for more than one-and-a-half hours later,” Martin told TNT Sports after the Sprint.

“I was just doing again my routine, the same as I did before. 

“I didn’t even see it, I was out of the [line]. 

“For me we could race even with the hole because it was not on the racing line, so I think for us MotoGP riders we can manage it.”

Martin’s third place was his first podium for Aprilia Racing in any kind of MotoGP race. He said afterwards that he felt he could have battled for the win before his crash in Q2 which cost him some confidence.

“During these last few months I’ve been training a lot and trying to put everything together and it seems like the confidence is getting there more and more, I’m more and more competitive during the practices,” he said.

“I know what I need from the bike, I know what I need for my riding style. 

“So, today, I knew my potential was even for the victory, but after the qualifying crash I started to miss a bit of confidence. 

“So, I think the first three laps I was a bit too safe overtaking Fabio [Quartararo], and then I was really relaxed after being behind Marco [Bezzecchi], but then my pace wasn’t bad. 

“I hope to improve a bit tomorrow to be able to fight.

“Going back to the podium is always nice and after what I’ve been through it’s amazing.”

Looking to Sunday, Martin admitted that taking the challenge to Ducati over 31 laps will be difficult aboard the RS-GP.

“We are, I think, a step away from them[Ducati],” he said.

“I was hearing what they were commenting and for sure we also have a different gearbox so maybe for tomorrow we have to change a bit. 

“I’m confident. I think here is more about how fast the rider can adapt to the conditions; today was really different from the other practices, so I hope to improve tomorrow for the race.”