Jorge Martin had a complicated Sunday in the Portuguese Grand Prix. The Pramac team rider started the 2023 season with a good second position in the Sprint Race on Saturday, in which he had also dictated the pace at some point. However, he was unable to repeat the performance in Sunday’s race as he was involved in the incident between Marc Marquez and Miguel Oliveira in the early stages of the race.
After a few laps, the Honda rider entered Turn 3 too fast, touching Jorge Martin. Subsequently he hit and knocked down Miguel Oliviera, who at first was left in pain on the side of the track. The consequences of the accident were various: Marc himself was diagnosed with a possible fracture of the first metacarpal of his right hand, as confirmed by Doctor Angel Charte. The injury could keep him out of next week’s Argentine Grand Prix, for which he also received a double long lap penalty as a sanction by the FIM stewards.
Martin also had consequences, as well as compromising the race, in which he ended up in the rear but retired 6 laps from the end, he also broke his toe. Thus, at the end of the race, the Spaniard erupted against Marquez in a statement to Motorsport.com.
“It’s not the first time he’s put me down. Apologizing to the pilot and the public is no longer enough. The only rider who complained on Thursday was him. He has to be careful because he ruined two races for me, I for him none”, stated the Ducati rider sharply, visibly annoyed by what happened.
“There are riders up front and you have to respect them. At that point you have to go outside, wide, but he doesn’t want to. In the Thursday meeting he was the only one who complained about possible penalties. Already from this it should have been understood that he would have messed up ”, ruled Martin.
Furthermore, he confirmed his injury, which could be of a bigger nature: “It was a difficult race. I broke my toe and I think I have a sprain too,” she concluded. You now have less than a week to recover in view of the next grand prix of the season, scheduled in Argentina, at Termas de Rio Hondo next weekend.
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Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
