In the new MotoGP season, Ducati emerged as a force to be reckoned with, especially Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati). With a flawless streak of podium finishes, last year’s runner-up has already taken the lead in the championship race, positioning himself as one of the top contenders for the title once again.
Following Martín’s outstanding performance in Portimão, Fonsi Nieto spoke to AS newspaper about the Spaniard, commending his race strategy and the approach shown by the “Martinator.”
“We observed a more strategic approach from him. Whenever his rivals closed in, he pushed a bit harder, maintaining a safe distance without a single mistake throughout the race.
He appears more mature, with a clear goal to finish the year on a high note and avoid unnecessary battles for just a couple of points in the sprint race. The aim is set much higher. I saw Martín at his absolute best; it was the finest race I’ve witnessed from him.”
Another major talking point of the Portuguese round of the championship was the incident involving Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) as they fought for fifth place. No penalties were issued, as it was deemed a racing incident.
Nieto shares this perspective, although he feels the collision was avoidable: “I believe it was a crash that could have been prevented. Pecco was slightly off the racing line, leading to contact with Marc.
In these races, it’s challenging to make definitive statements. It’s categorized as a racing incident, but it was a crash that could have been avoided. Pecco had the opportunity to prevent the incident.”
