until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Pramac Ducati MotoGP rider Jorge Martin has made it clear a factory ride is not a prerequisite for him to stay with the Bologna marque.
Martin had been a long-time favourite to replace Jack Miller in the works Ducati team amid a superb rookie premier-class campaign in 2021, but his struggles with the newest spec of the Desmosedici this year coincided with a breakout season for Gresini rider Enea Bastianini – now seen by many as the favourite to take KTM-bound Miller’s ride instead.
Martin seemed to allude to this change in a MotoGP.com interview ahead of the Sachsenring round, while also appearing to hint that he would try his luck with rival marques if denied a works promotion.
“My future was almost clear but now it seems like we need to understand well where I could be next year,” he said in what was a clearly heavily-edited interview segment.
“If you look only at the results, for sure Enea deserves that [factory team] place and I don’t. But if you look inside, I think it’s a different story.
“He has a really good bike [the 2021 Ducati], I feel like with that bike I did [already] those things last year.
“In case I’m not in a factory bike with Ducati, I will look for a factory bike.”
Asked by The Race to clarify these comments on Thursday at the Sachsenring, Martin made it obvious that his stance was not anywhere near as hardline as it may have appeared.
“I mean, just in case we don’t go to the factory team, for sure I will look for other options.
“I love Pramac, it’s one of the best teams also, and it won’t be a problem for me to stay. Obviously with a factory[-spec] bike.
“And now it’s late also [in terms of the rider market]. I think my future is in Ducati for next year.
“I will take my chances and not worry about the market. I don’t think it’s necessary [to worry].”
RECOVERY LATEST
Having produced his strongest performance in the season in the dry en route to second place in Barcelona, Martin went under the knife the very next day in Italy to alleviate a nerve problem in his right hand – something that he has now described as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Though fit to ride at the Sachsenring, he said: “I was expecting better, to arrive a bit better, in better condition, it’s what the doctors told me.
“They told me for a pianist three days [of recovery] is okay.
“I mean, I can do a normal life, but riding a MotoGP is not normal.”
“Even if the surgery went perfectly for sure to ride a MotoGP it’s maybe a really short time, but I will try my best. And I think with some painkillers I will be okay.
“I have pain on my hand, for sure in braking I will struggle, but here at least this is a left-corners track, so that’s good, just maybe two strong brakings, so… I think it won’t be an issue.”
