Jorge Martín did the trick in Qatar, in the short race on Saturday, with a superb victory that multiplies his chances of fighting for the title in Valencia. The Madrid native was also able to put four drivers between him and Pecco Bagnaia, who was fifth, so that he cut 7 points in one fell swoop to the Italian: he is now close to only 7, with the Lusail Sunday race remaining (6:00 p.m. h) and the two tests of the last round of the Valencian Community GP. That is, 62 points still at stake.
“I thought I was going to go strong, I saw myself as having the potential to win. But I went too far at the beginning, I had to come back, which was not easy. Then I had the pace and two tenths saved. Today winning was very important,” commented Martín , which this Sunday could regain the lead, just 7 points away.
Separated by just a few meters and by only 22 thousandths of a difference, Bagnaia, fourth, and Martín, fifth, focused their attention on the second starting row under the lights of Luisail. Depending on the result of the short race (11 laps), the championship could be decided in the Sunday long race. Only 14 points separated them overall in the World Cup.
The traffic lights went out and Luca Marini, the pole-sitter, maintained his privileged position, followed by Àlex Márquez, from 3rd to 2nd. Martín, aggressive, overtook Bagnaia after a touch with his elbow to place third, but the Madrid native slipped one corner later and gave up two positions to the Italian and Marc Márquez. Although the Catalan soon recovered his position.
Martín did not throw in the towel, but in the second lap he returned to the attack and with another brush with Bagnaia, he bravely put the bike in and took third position from him. In turn, Di Giannantonio delayed the leader one more place, to fifth. Ideal situation for Martinator. At that moment, provisionally, Martín was approaching 12 points behind the champion, who could be crowned in the long race if he won and the Spaniard scored a zero…
Up front, Àlex Márquez had a tough fight with Marini for the victory. The man from Cervera gained a few meters advantage (v. 5/11), but the Italian responded to maintain the lead. They were joined by Martín, who did not hesitate to overtake Márquez and place second. And less than a lap later, before the finish line, the Madrid native also overtook Marini to take the lead of the race. The Ducati Pramac one is impressive.
At that moment, Martín was only 7 points behind Bagnaia in the general classification and was chasing away the mathematical possibility that the Italian could be champion on Sunday in Qatar. In just a few corners, the Spaniard was half a second behind Di Giannantonio and Marini, while Alex Márquez blocked Bagnaia, who was fifth.
The Italian leader was also beginning to feel the breath of Maverick Viñales’s Aprilia on his neck, with two laps to go before the finish line. Although the Ducati rider kept the Empordà rider at bay.
Martín withstood the attacks of Di Giannantonio in the last lap to add his eighth victory in Sprint, 12 points, and subtract 7 from Bagnaia, who is close to 7 overall in the World Championship; an excellent result to multiply his title options.
