Martin expects tough ‘podium battle’ after clinching fourth MotoGP pole
Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin has brought an end to Francesco Bagnaia’s streak of five consecutive MotoGP poles thanks to a stunning last Q2 lap in Valencia.
Bagnaia looked like the odds-on favorite to claim top spot after setting a 1:30.000s - four tenths clear of Miller in P2, however, Martin was able to find 64 hundredths of a second to claim pole, while Bagnaia and Jack Miller, who completed an all-Ducati front row both crashed.
While Bagnaia’s pole streak came to an end, Martin did extend Ducati’s streak to sixth - Pol Espargaro is the last non Ducati rider to take pole which was at Silverstone.
Despite Miller and Bagnaia showing slightly more pace prior to qualifying, Martin admitted he was confident of achieving such a result due to improving his ‘weak points’ in the lead up to Q2.
Martin said: "I knew that I could do this pole position. Before the qualifying I was really confident.
"The target was ultimately the front row because at the end of the day it’s really important to be in the front here.
"It’s really difficult to overtake here. The first lap was good but I did some mistake and I knew I could improve.
"Even if the second tyre was perfect, I felt a lot of spin from the beginning. But, I improved all the weak points and was fully focused.
"For sure there’s still a bit of margin because it was on the limit. The (race) pace is not bad but it’s a pity we tried the hard in FP4 because I don’t think it’s the race tyre.
"I hope the medium is working well at the end of the race and I think we can battle for the podium."
In regards to where his main challenge will come from, Martin believes Bagnaia, Miller and team-mate Johann Zarco could all play a role, while not dismissing the Suzuki’s of Alex Rins and Joan Mir either.
Whether Martin takes a second victory of the season, a podium, or even a top five, the Spaniard expects to finish ahead of Enea Bastianini - Italian could only qualify 18th - in the chase for rookie of the year which is his main goal heading into Sunday’s race.
"These two guys I have here (Bagnaia & Miller) are for sure the strongest (competition). But tomorrow the most important thing is to win rookie of the year," added Martin.
"We need to finish and finish in front of Enea [Bastianini]. I think that as long as we finish then we will be in front.
"We are really strong for the podium. For sure, Ducati factory riders will be strong and Suzuki's Rins and Mir - maybe Zarco too. But I feel like we are ready for the battle."
