Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin says it felt like “the other ones hadn’t started ye꧟t” when he launched off the grid on his way to sprint victory at the MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix.

Ma❀rtin endured a scrappy qualifying at Misano on Saturday morning and could only manage fourth while chief title rival Francesco Bagnaia scorched to pole.

But in the 13-lap sprint, Martin vaulted from four🐓th to first into Turn 1 and led to the finish of the race to beat Bagna💃ia by 1.495s.

The win, his first in a sprint since July’s Germanꦉ GP, has put Martin 26 points clear in the standings.

Martin said afterwards that his reaction to the lights ra🌊ther than his actual start was what impressed him the most and was “really comfortable, really confident” in the lead.

“Yeah, well it feels really good 🍒to win alꦬways,” he said on Saturday afternoon.

♛“This is the most important thing. I am happy that I gave my 100%.

“So tomorrow I will give it also. And if it’s a second I will be even as happy as today. But the target is still there, the target💖 is to win and I wilꦜl give my maximum.

“It was aꩵn amazing start. I think the reaction was incredible, mor💮e than the start.

“The🦹 start was good, but the reactiꩲon was impressive. I saw that the other ones hadn’t started yet and I was already far, far in front.

“Afterwards I saw Pec🔯co brake ꦍa bit early, so I went for it and everything went perfect.

“After that, in first position I was really comfortable, really confi♛dent, I always ride by myself. So it was a normal condition for me.”

Martin’s win in the sprint came as most singled out Bagna𝓰ia to walk away at the front at Misano on Saturday following his dominant pole.

The result h♐as guaranteed that Martin will end the San Marino GP leading the championship no 🍷matter what happens on Sunday.

Asked if this win was a mental blow to his rival, he replied: “I don’t kno𝔉w. I don’t really care about that. I🥃 care more about what I said before, more about giving my best and whatever I can do I will be happy.”

Tyre choice for Sunꦫday’s grand prix remains up in the air as both the medium and the soft options look viable over a full distance.

Martin wꦯas impressive on both compounds across Friday’s practi🌱ce and is confident he can fight for victory on either.

ꦚ“I don’t think it will be crucial,” he said of Sunday’s tyre c💛hoice.

“I think it’s more it will be difficult. I think both tyres h⛎ave the potential of victory, so for sure it will be interesting this evening to try to understand.

“But I am also quite relaxed because I think I😼 have the potential on either soft or medium.”