Martin’s hopes took a hit, finishing 10th as rival Pecco Bagnaia secured second place, widening the points gap to 21 with only 37 available in the upcoming Valencia finale.
Known for a strong sprint race, Martin hinted at issues during the main event, glancing at his Pramac Ducati’s rear tire. When asked about his performance, he sarcastically said, “Well, I don’t know. It seems like I forgot to ride.”
Shifting to a serious tone, Martin blamed his rear tire: “In the start, my rear tire spun like a stone.” He ruled out track conditions and tire wear, suggesting a tire flaw.
Expressing frustration, Martin lamented, “It’s a pity that, after such a great season, I feel like they stole it from me.” Firmly blaming the tire, he said, “It’s unacceptable that a MotoGP championship is decided by a tire.”
Unlike cautious riders, Martin accused Michelin directly: “I was the only rider this happened to. Something was wrong with the tire.”
He called for improvement, saying, “They need to analyze why this happened, so it doesn’t happen again.” Martin highlighted the performance gap between Sunday and Saturday, emphasizing he didn’t forget how to ride but faced an inexplicable loss of pace.
Acknowledging future championships, He felt an immediate impact: “Today I feel a big loss because it’s really difficult now.”
In this unexpected twist, Martin’s accusations against Michelin add controversy to the MotoGP title race, leaving fans and experts eager to see how the situation unfolds in the upcoming Valencia finale.