Despite the attention-grabbing collision between Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, as well as Pedro Acosta’s impressive performance, another noteworthy event went somewhat unnoticed during Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix. Jorge Martin, the runner-up in the 2023 championship, secured a dominant victory. This should serve as a warning to both Marquez and Bagnaia, who are aiming for title glory in 2024. Instead of focusing on each other, they should be concerned about the significant threat Martin poses to their hopes. After Martin’s full score of 25 points on Sunday, he now holds a comfortable 18-point lead over second-placed Brad Binder after only two rounds. In comparison, Bagnaia and Marquez are noticeably behind with 23 and 33 points respectively.
Although this may not be a major issue after only two race weekends in normal circumstances, it should be a greater concern for Bagnaia, Marquez, and Martin’s other championship rivals. This is not only due to Martin’s accumulating race wins, but also the manner in which he is achieving them. While Martin has always been incredibly fast since his MotoGP debut in 2021, he has also been inconsistent, particularly when leading from the front. In the past, he struggled to match Bagnaia’s tire management skills and made mistakes when controlling races from the front. One notable example was his unforced error while leading in Indonesia last year, which severely damaged his title hopes.
However, the Martin we witnessed at Portimao was a completely different competitor. He delivered what he described as the most mature win of his career, especially considering the serious injuries he sustained early on in his premier class career. He admitted that taking the lead early on was easier as he could manage it. As his competitors closed in on him, he maintained a small margin of one tenth and consistently increased his pace with each lap. This allowed him to feel more relaxed with a seven-tenths gap, knowing it was sufficient to secure the victory. He also reflected on the importance of his experience in Indonesia, realizing that winning the race by a significant margin was unnecessary.
Furthermore, Martin acknowledged the crucial rule in MotoGP at present: securing the lead early on leads to victory. He was fully committed to taking the lead, understanding that the first lap was pivotal for success. By maintaining a small gap in the first few laps, he was able to manage his rear tire. When he started to push, he noticed that the gap remained constant, giving him the confidence to extend it further. He felt comfortable during the race and believed that with a few more laps, he could have achieved even faster lap times. Taking the lead from the beginning made the race much easier for him.
Although there are still areas for Martin to improve, such as addressing rear chatter issues and refining his tire management skills, his performance in the Portuguese GP demonstrated that he should not be underestimated. Last year already highlighted his potential, and this race has further emphasized the consequences of surrendering a significant number of points to him without a fight. Marquez and Bagnaia experienced this firsthand at Portimao.