“I can afford to compete without paying attention to anyone, being myself”

The Spanish rider Pramac arrives at the last grand prix of the season, the twentieth, with a 24-point lead in the general classification of the MotoGP World Championship. He doesn’t have much to do to achieve the feat of becoming the first driver, since 2002, to win the crown in a private structure, but as has always been said, closing it is the most complicated of all .

The only one who can deprive Jorge Martin of the championship is precisely the winner of the last two years, the Italian Pecco Bagnaia.

“I’m very happy to be here in this situation, it’s very exciting to fight with Pecco again for the championship, it’s crazy to be able to make a difference with the others like we did,” said presented the Madrid native. “It’s also fantastic to be able to compete for Valencia, a great initiative which is a great prize of solidarity for those affected,” he added.

Faced with the resolution of the championship, Martín showed himself in his usual line of belief.

“I have confidence in myself, I can’t wait to start riding, a lot of things are going through my mind these days, I’ve been a little nervous, that’s normal. But I can’t wait to go. I’m on the track tomorrow and I’m starting to ride,” he admitted.

“My head is a machine for predicting the future,” he replied when asked what he was thinking. “So I’m always here to try to analyze and understand, in everything, in my private life, not just at the competition level. This year, I worked a lot to calm down and live more in the present. This was a difficult week “I come from Malaysia because of the time difference, I didn’t sleep well this week and that’s why I thought a lot about everything,” he admitted.

In anticipation of this weekend, surely the most important of his life, Martín does not want to show his cards.

“My strategy, my goal, is to do the same thing as always, to try to be competitive from Friday to Sunday, and that winning or not winning is the consequence of this work. In the end, I can allow one to compete without paying attention to it.” to anyone, try to be fast, if I were myself”, Martín said that by winning the sprint on Saturday he would already be champion.

“Of course, if I can leave it sealed on Saturday I will happily accept it, but the fight can take place on Sunday and I accept that, I will try to enjoy it and, above all, be competitive. is the main objective,” he insisted.

During the press conference preceding the Grand Prix, at which Martín and Bagnaia were present, Casey Stoner’s words were repeated, warning the Spaniard of Ducati’s interests.

“I’m grateful that Ducati allowed me to fight with the same weapons, it’s fair. That’s all I have to say,” he settled the matter.

Last year, Martín arrived at the last race with the obligation to attack and reduce Bagnaia’s advantage, a situation opposite to that of this year. But he doesn’t think he should act any differently.

“I don’t know, maybe Pecco can give me some advice,” he joked. “It’s not about points, I approach things differently. Last season I always thought I could make history or win the title. This year I’m just focusing on what I can control, that is to say, ride at one hundred percent.” And I didn’t do that last year, now I feel strong and I can have a good weekend, I think about it.”

Sunday will be Martín’s last race with Ducati, the manufacturer that has never considered him as an official rider.

“Let’s see, it’s not that they think I’m not good enough for them, there were other interests of a different nature. I don’t think Ducati thinks I’m not good enough to have a official motorcycle. The important thing is that we never know what the future holds for us. “Future, it is important to end the relationship well because anything can happen,” he left the door open.

Another constant theme this season is the good relationship between Martín and Bagnaia, despite the stakes between them and unlike other recent rivalries.

“It’s very cool, I’ve always been behind Pecco in my career, when I arrived in Moto3 he was already winning, and the same in Moto2 and MotoGP. Now we’ve finally been tied for two years and it’s a very beautiful rivalry. “We are not used to seeing this type of rivalry at this level, I think it is completely fair and I hope we can maintain it in the future.”

They asked the Madrilenian to reveal the possible key to the weekend, what detail can make the difference.

“I think the key has been the whole season. There is a fighter who says he wins championships by training. For us, that means you win throughout the season and at the end you win the title. The important thing is the work of the year “We gave everything in 19 races, it’s time to understand what we need to win the medal,” he said.

One of these factors could be, combined with low temperatures, the behavior of the tires, with Michelin offering up to seven different compounds.

“It is undoubtedly complicated, it is the grand prix with the largest number of tires, we have new compounds, softer on the right side, it is safer, because in the heat the left turns were already tricky. “Interesting, we’ll have to do a lot of work to try them all.”

The World Championship will be decided in Montmeló due to flooding in Valencia, a setting that traditionally offers very exciting and spectacular races.

“The Valencia circuit can offer more spectacle, there is less race management and you can drive at 100%. But the atmosphere is more there because it’s the last race, that’s what makes Valencia special. So it can be here too. Definitely what I would prefer is that nothing happened and we are all in Valencia now. That said, I hope we have a weekend. . exciting and we can take advantage of it,” concluded the World Cup leader.