The MotoGP grid wondered who would stop Jorge Martin’s brilliant run in the last 4 Grands Prix. The answer came loud and clear at the Indonesian Grand Prix as Martin blew his massive 3-second lead on lap 13 as he joined his Ducati in the gravel. Martin’s biggest dent to his Championship challenge was self-inflicted. Martin and Francesco Bagnaia have been locked in a tight battle for the 2023 World Championship.

Martin started the Sunday at Mandalika as the Championship leader as the Spaniard took the lead from Francesco Bagnaia as he won the Saturday Sprint race. The Grid anticipated Martin to extend his lead in the Grand Prix as the rider started P6 while Pecco was in a miserable P13. In a Grand Prix that saw only 14 of the 21 riders finish the race, the two title contenders put up a stellar show.

Martin quickly took the lead (stunningly in the very first turn) and appeared to streak away as he built a staggering 3-second Gap at the front while Bagnaia started his climb to the show. Pecco rode a ride fitting of a Reigning World Champion as the Italian shockingly won the Grand Prix while Martin crashed out. The factory Ducati rider is now back to leading the Title race as Martin looked desolate. Martin’s comment about the title race and the pressure on Pecco comes to mind; read more below.

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Jorge Martin played the mind game against Pecco Bagnaia yesterday with his comment

Martin, after winning the Sprint race, made an interesting comment about leading the Premiere Class Championship for the first time. The Gresini rider, “Feels good. It feels amazing and feels like a dream, but every race will be the same – I need to attack, I need to enjoy the moment and everything that comes is good.”

The part that followed his elation on being the Championship leader is the interesting bit. Martin added, “The pressure, I feel, is on Pecco. I will keep the same mentality.” It reminds us of how Riders of old have employed their words to put pressure on their opponents, brewing psychological warfare.

Martin, however, has come in second place as the first blood in this new warfare is drawn. Let’s see if he’s able to put pressure back on the Italian Champion next weekend as MotoGP visits one of its most-priced jewels – Phillip Island.

In case you missed it:

• Jorge Martin urges his team to ‘keep dreaming’ as he wins back-to-back GP’s
• Fabio Quartararo admits Marc Marquez’s move to Ducati will make MotoGP riders’ life ‘really difficult’

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