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Jorge Martin: The stats and the Q&A

Words and images courtesy MotoGP

Jorge Martin becomes the 30th different premier class World Champion and only the fifth different Spanish rider to clinch a premier class world title along with Alex Criville (one premier class title), Joan Mir (1), Jorge Lorenzo (3) and Marc Marquez (6).

Martin is the first Independent Team rider to win the Championship in the MotoGP era and the first Independent rider to clinch the premier class title since Valentino Rossi in 2001. Jorge Martin’s achievement is truly remarkable. 

Martin becomes the third Ducati rider to clinch the MotoGP title along with Francesco Bagnaia (2022, 2023) and Casey Stoner (2007). 

Martin becomes the second rider to clinch the premier class world title having previously taken the Moto3 title, along with Joan Mir (2020).

Jorge Martin, the talented rider, becomes the first former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup winner to clinch the premier class world title.

In the MotoGP era, this is the fifth time the Champion is not the rider with the most wins, after Nicky Hayden (2006), Jorge Lorenzo (2012), Marc Marquez (2013 and 2017, tied with Andrea Dovizioso) and Joan Mir (2020). 

With eight premier class wins, all with Ducati, Martin sits in fourth on the list of Ducati riders with most wins. Bagnaia leads with 29 wins.

With 32 premier class podiums so far, Jorge Martin is the fourth Ducati rider with most podiums in the class behind Andrea Dovizioso (40) and Casey Stoner (42). Francesco Bagnaia leads with 51. 

Martin has 16 GP podiums this year, tied with Bagnaia, which is a new record for a Ducati rider. The previous most was Bagnaia’s 15 last season. 

Aged 26 years and 293 days old, Martin is the oldest rider to clinch his maiden MotoGP world title since the introduction of the class in 2002, Bagnaia in 2022 (25 years and 296 days old).

Jorge Martin is the first rider to reach the milestone of 500 points in a single premier class season: 508.

What Jorge Martin has to say…

Congratulations Jorge and to your Prima Pramac Racing on a stunning campaign!

“Thanks to everybody, it is a nice feeling but I am in shock I don’t know what to say, the emotions are high and I cried a lot, so maybe now I am more relaxed. I spoke a lot with the media, it has been an emotional hour after the big moment, I just want to celebrate, I just want to be with my team, my family and my friends. It has been emotional; it has been a long journey as my career has not been easy. For sure, I have had good opportunities in front of me, but I think I have built off them. I worked hard, and I have made a lot of sacrifices at home every day to try and become a better man. Last season, I had the opportunity, but I think I was not prepared to win but this year I felt it. I felt it was my year, so thanks to Pramac, to Ducati for giving me the opportunity to have an amazing bike these four years and to give me the opportunity to fight until the end with Pecco, who was amazing.”

How were you feeling ahead of the Grand Prix with a 19-point advantage and during the first few laps?

“It was difficult, the conditions were difficult, so the tyre choice was not easy. There were some hard tyres, some soft tyres and some medium tyres, so I was looking at my opponents, and I was like, ‘Wow, they are all good’. I mean, I thought it was really easy for me to finish 10th if they had a good race. I was scared, but I thought the medium was the most conservative tyre choice. It wasn’t easy, and I don’t think it was the correct one, maybe the soft was a little bit more competitive. I had trust in myself, and I had a lot of confidence in myself that even with the worst tyre, I could be inside the top nine, so I was super focused on the race.”

Talk us through the explosion of emotion when you knew you were the World Champion?

“Seven laps to go was the difficult point, I was so focused today, and I think even if it was a normal race in May, I would have finished third because Marc and Pecco were stronger. I did my best. For sure, the last seven laps were difficult, I started to remember a lot of moments throughout my career, I remember my dad helping me after work and all of the weekend, my mum cooking when I was in pocket bikes and my grandfather, who is not here and was watching me from the sky. I was remembering a lot of moments, but then I had to refocus and remain in the moment but then once I crossed the finish line, I started to cry. Already on the last lap, I felt that I was starting to cry; it was so emotional, and then I became happy and started to cry again once I remembered my family. I am so happy that almost all my family is here and all my close friends are here, so tonight will be good.”

How special will it be to put your name at the top of the Tower of Champions?

“Last season, I remember with Pecco when I was doing the filming, I was looking at the trophy, and I wasn’t prepared. I was scared, but this year, I didn’t even look at the trophy while we were filming, but I thought I would put my name in its place. Today, I enjoyed the race. I was touching my elbow and shoulder on the ground, like a training session. I am so happy that I could enjoy the moment as I remember in 2018 when I won the Moto3 World Championship I was already thinking that I wanted another one in Moto2, so I didn’t enjoy it. Now I can enjoy the moment, and whatever comes in the future will be a gift, I will try and be my best version and try and win with Aprilia, but right now, I will enjoy this moment.”

Jorge Martin: The stats and the Q&A | SuperBike