MotoGP: Jorge Martin claims ‘everything has become a bit cloudy’ in his battle to join Francesco Bagnaia as a factory Ducati rider in 2023
With just two factory MotoGP sܫeats still up for grabs𓃲 - the other being at Repsol Honda - Ducati has a difficult decision on their hands as both Bastianini and Martin have shown enough to warrant its second seat alongside Bagnaia.
While cras🌞hes and inconsistencies for both riders have also played a role in the delayed decision, race wins in the case of Bastianini seemed to make him the favourite a few rounds ago.
But the momentum has sinceไ swung back and forth as Martin’s raw speed is clear for a👍ll to see, not least Ducati.
Although Ducati have confirmed a decision is expected between the Austrian and San Marin♑o Grand Prix’, Martin feels his future is less certain than prior to the summer break🍸.
Speaking to AS.com, Martin said: "The truth is that I have no idea [if he will join the factory team or stay at Pramac], honestly. If I could I would tell y♋ou where I will be neꦓxt year, but I don't know.
"If you ask me six races before, the truth is that it was clearer to me than now, but after everythiꦅng that has happened everything has become a bit cloudy.
"Now we will tꩵry to fight in our position to be where we want, which is in the official Ducati [team]. I still have two races to stay ahead of my opponent [Bastianini] and hopefully we can do that.
"There are no more seats anywhere. My option right now I think is staying at Ducati, it is a project that I trust in the long term and I hope to be able to wear red soon, if not the following year and be able to fight for a world championship," continuಌed Martin.
Martin ‘recovering’ after disastrous start to 2022
After being taken out in Qatar by Bagnaia, individual mistakes then followed as Martin took h𒈔is tally of non-scores to five by crashing out of the French MotoGP at Le Mans.
The mistakes have prov🎃ed costly as Martin believes he could have been challenging Bastianini for fourth in the championship.
"In the end we haven't finished races and I think t♋hat was the mistake," added Martin. "In the end, finishing all the races in the position I was in when I crashed, I would be in the top four of the world championship, so our realistic position is not where we are.
"Now we are recovering, we are close to fourth in the championship and nꦡow the comeback begins.
"I think that our strong point comes nowﷺ and for some reason or another we have not been able to finish races and mainly that is where we h𓄧ave failed."
Martin ‘more afraid of falling’ after recent MotoGP injuries
A rider who has suffered various injuries during his time in Grand Prix racing, Martin’s most impactful injury was in 2021 afജter suffering right hand and leg frac𒊎tures during a crash at Portimao.
The Pramac Ducati rider has so far been relatively injury-free in 2022 aside from a ‘nerve problem’ in Jerez, however, that hasn’t stopped the Spaniard from admitting to being ‘more afraid’ of crashing than before. &🧸nbsp;
Martin told AS.com: "Yes [the injury has changed me]. Now I am more afraid of falling and, above all, 💝more respectful of injuries.
"I think that is the big change that I can feel when I ride. If I don't see ♋things clearly, I don't shoot, I prefer to stay on the bike and not go down, and before, maybe I was going a little more crazy.
"But I think it has also helped me to be more rational and to think about things more before doing them💦."
