Jorge Martin says that he is “disappointed that the championship is decided by a bad tyre” after struggling to tenth in the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix.
The Pramac Ducati rider was confident of securing the double at the Lusail International Circuit after winning the Saturday sprint encounter, though his chances immediately took a tumble at the start of the full-length race on Sunday as a poor start dropped him from fifth in the grid to ninth.
Despite initially recovering back to sixth, he later faded back to tenth by the time he took the chequered flag as he struggled with a lack of rear grip due to a dodgy rear tyre, according to the Spaniard after the race.
With his points deficit now a demanding 21 with only 37 left to play for across the season finale event in Valencia next weekend after Francesco Bagnaia finished second in the Qatar GP, Martin remarked that he was “disappointed the championship is decided by a bad tyre.”
“For sure I wasn’t comfortable. At the start, I had the massive (rear) spinning, and this was because the rear tyre wasn’t working correctly,” explained a frustrated Martin.
“I’m really disappointed that the championship is decided by a bad tyre, but this is what happened and it’s a pity but I couldn’t do any more as I had no rear grip and really struggled to stop the bike.
“I also couldn’t turn and open the throttle, it was like wet conditions. Luckily with my experience, I could at least get some points which wasn’t easy, so hopefully we can move on and fight in Valencia.”
Martin added that he “can for sure win both races” in Valencia, and feels that he “deserves this championship.”
“Anything can happen there as Pecco (Bagnaia) can make a mistake, I can for sure win both races but there’s not much I can do if we get a tyre like today,” continued Martin.
“I had the potential to win today, for sure it is not decided but it’s not the same as arriving in Valencia close so I’m pretty frustrated as they didn’t beat us on the track they beat us outside.
“I’m quite relaxed, and I feel like we deserve this championship.”
