Don't Try, "Just Ride": Jorge Martin’s Path to MotoGP Glory
by Dean Adams
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
It’s a bit of a slant on writer and urban poet Charles Bukowski’s mantra of "don't try."
Jorge Martin and Pramac Ducati are just a few sessions away from Grand Prix racing immortality—Martin and Pramac could become the first satellite MotoGP team to win the MotoGP World Championship this weekend at Barcelona. Martin has finished races while his title rival, Francesco Bagnaia, has crashed too much in 2024. Circumstances and fate could play out for either to win the title, but Martin holds the advantage.
A tense situation like this can be a nightmare for a rider and team, where so much is riding on every lap, every corner, and, for his crew, every turn of the screwdriver, every connection of the tire warmers. A wayward trajectory just a few inches off the racing line could put Martin on his ear with a broken wrist. Likewise, a mistake by his crew could have a tragic outcome. Anything can happen and even to the best: Doug Chandler’s fourth AMA Superbike title slipped away at the final race in Las Vegas when his Muzzy Kawasaki engine failed; Ben Bostrom, who had not yet won a Superbike race, claimed the title.
Martin has a veteran crew at Pramac with mechanics who have been in MotoGP, WSBK, and AMA racing for decades. They are experienced enough not to go down the crazy path of sending every bolt on the bike Martin will race to a metallurgy lab to be ultrasonically tested or X-rayed. Because then, you start doubting the tools—when was the last time my torque wrench was calibrated by the manufacturer?—or the suppliers. Should we change the oil between qualifying and the Sprint? You know, we never have had those clip-ons ultrasonic tested...
Martin came close to winning the title last season, only for a very unfortunate and highly suspicious tire issue boat anchor his run at the MotoGP championship.
Obviously, bad things can happen in the blink of an eye: take, for instance, my colorful friend Davide Tardozzi, who now helps manage the Ducati factory team. Today, all anyone seems to remember is that American Fred Merkel won the first WSBK championship in 1988. But the heartbreak story of that season was that Bimota rider Tardozzi led the championship from Hockenheim onward and looked to be the title favorite until the championship made its final push through Australia and New Zealand. Tragically, Tardozzi’s title lead was crushed with two very unfortunate crashes—the second on the warm-up lap of the final race. Instead of winning the WSBK title, Tardozzi stood on the grid with a smashed motorcycle, crying, as the others launched into turn one.
Mechanics who have been in this very situation say it’s best to stay loose and “not let it get to you.” Maybe don’t fully adopt Bukowski’s mantra of "don’t try," but don’t overthink, they say.
May the best man—and team—win.
Jorge Martin and Pramac Ducati are just a few sessions away from Grand Prix racing immortality—Martin and Pramac could become the first satellite MotoGP team to win the MotoGP World Championship this weekend at Barcelona. Martin has finished races while his title rival, Francesco Bagnaia, has crashed too much in 2024. Circumstances and fate could play out for either to win the title, but Martin holds the advantage.
A tense situation like this can be a nightmare for a rider and team, where so much is riding on every lap, every corner, and, for his crew, every turn of the screwdriver, every connection of the tire warmers. A wayward trajectory just a few inches off the racing line could put Martin on his ear with a broken wrist. Likewise, a mistake by his crew could have a tragic outcome. Anything can happen and even to the best: Doug Chandler’s fourth AMA Superbike title slipped away at the final race in Las Vegas when his Muzzy Kawasaki engine failed; Ben Bostrom, who had not yet won a Superbike race, claimed the title.
Instead of winning the WSBK title, Tardozzi stood on the grid with a smashed motorcycle, crying, as the others launched into turn one.
Martin came close to winning the title last season, only for a very unfortunate and highly suspicious tire issue boat anchor his run at the MotoGP championship.
Obviously, bad things can happen in the blink of an eye: take, for instance, my colorful friend Davide Tardozzi, who now helps manage the Ducati factory team. Today, all anyone seems to remember is that American Fred Merkel won the first WSBK championship in 1988. But the heartbreak story of that season was that Bimota rider Tardozzi led the championship from Hockenheim onward and looked to be the title favorite until the championship made its final push through Australia and New Zealand. Tragically, Tardozzi’s title lead was crushed with two very unfortunate crashes—the second on the warm-up lap of the final race. Instead of winning the WSBK title, Tardozzi stood on the grid with a smashed motorcycle, crying, as the others launched into turn one.
Mechanics who have been in this very situation say it’s best to stay loose and “not let it get to you.” Maybe don’t fully adopt Bukowski’s mantra of "don’t try," but don’t overthink, they say.
May the best man—and team—win.
— ends —
