To become the rookie of the 2021 MotoGP season, George Martin won a victory and reached three podiums. As he was not clumsy during qualifying either, we can say that, definitely, this Ducati has become the bike you have to have to win. However, the same George Martin suffered a heavy fall in Portimao and the World Champion of the year is a Quarterly who still has a Yamaha.
The pilot of 23 years old started the year with a pole and a podium in his second race, in Doha, before suffering a very bad crash in Portugal which kept him away from the circuits for four Grands Prix. Number 89 joined the grid in Catalonia, still dragging some physical complications which did not allow him to regain his competitiveness until the return from the summer holidays.
The former Moto3 World Champion started the second part of the season in the best possible way by performing well at the Styrian Grand Prix and returning to the podium a week later on the same track. Then he had to wait four races to be seen fighting for the first places again, finishing fifth in Austin. During the final event in Valencia, where the title of best beginner of the year was played against Enea Bastianini, Martin did not fail and added a new podium by placing second behind Pecco Bagnaia.
Despite the speed that the Spanish driver showed during his first run with the Desmosedici, Jorge Martín I don’t think the Italian prototype is an easy bike to handle for a beginner, particularly because of the high physical demands that the GP21 requires to be competitive. In an interview offered to MCN and relayed by Todocircuito, Jorge explains that “ the Ducati is a very complete motorcycle and you can go fast with it, but once you understand it “. And he adds: “ it’s not an easy bike. It has its good and bad sides, there are still areas in which we can improve ».
Jorge Martin: “ our engine makes life easier but it’s a very physical bike«
Regarding the engine, George Martin has not the slightest reproach to make when he evaluates the thrust offered by the mechanics of his Italian missile: “ our engine makes our lives easier, there is nothing like overtaking another rival on the straight. We suffered a little in the curves, but in the straights we did well », Analyzes the Spaniard.
More Martin also specifies that the Ducati is earned, by pushing its pilot to draw on his physical reserves: “ it’s a motorcycle that seems heavy, which is difficult to move when you change direction. It’s a very physical bike. Little by little I have improved, but I still have a lot to see. And it will continue like this until I figured out how to go fast with it without spending so much energy. This will be one of the keys for the future ».
George Martin finished : ” changes of direction are exhausting especially if you have to do a quick ride, because you have to do them very, very quickly. These maneuvers require almost all my strength, including braking. When you brake late and go from 300 to 90 km/h in a few seconds, it’s very physical, but it’s the only way to save time “. To the wise…
Meanwhile, on April 21, Martin had plates placed in his right hand and ankle. The Spaniard complained during the season of not being able to move as usual. They have been removed: everything went well, confirms Martin. “ The hand is functional and the ankle too. Now I have to rest a little and I can start again. » Martin still has time until the next mission. Testing will take place in Sepang in early February.