Michelin’s Response to Qatar MotoGP Issues: What We Know So Far

Jorge Martin’s struggle resulted in a season-worst 10th place finish in the penultimate race of the season due to an apparent tire defect that hampered him from the beginning last Sunday.

As Francesco Bagnaia secured a second-place finish, the reigning champion has now opened up a 21-point lead over Martin as they head into the season finale in Valencia this weekend.

Martin’s criticism of Michelin after the race in Qatar was harsh, as he stated that “they stole” the championship from him due to the tire issue. Michelin is currently examining the problem, but no conclusive answers have been provided yet by the French tire manufacturer. Martin confirmed that he has not been informed of any progress from Michelin, expressing the need for time to analyze the situation.

“Admittedly, it was a challenging race. I faced difficulties right from the first lap. I’m still waiting for a resolution, and these things require thorough scrutiny. Perhaps I was a bit too outspoken after the race because I’m an impulsive person. There’s still uncertainty regarding the nature of the issue, but we might gain clarity in a month or two,” Martin explained.

Martin now approaches the title decider in Valencia feeling relaxed with a “nothing to lose” mindset, indicating that it is “easy to forget” what happened in Qatar and asserting his readiness to focus on the upcoming weekend.

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

“The last result has made it a bit more challenging for sure,” Martin acknowledged. “We were making great progress and recovering points, but now we find ourselves quite distant. However, I’m feeling relaxed, and after the race in Qatar, I realized how tough it is to win.”

“I’m content with my performance throughout the season, so I have nothing to lose. I’ll savor the weekend and aim to win both races. I’m confident in my ability to achieve that on a track I enjoy and am fast at,” Martin expressed.

“It was relatively easy for me to move on from the setback. I understood that it wasn’t my fault, so I tried to spread positivity among my team. I should’ve been the one receiving encouragement instead. It is what it is, and I prefer not to dwell on it. Let’s just focus on this weekend. While 21 points may have been a significant gap in the past, it’s not insurmountable now. We still have our chances, and my goal is to embrace whatever happens,” Martin concluded.