After narrowly missing the MotoGP™ world title last year, Jorge Martín changed his performance preparation tactic for this season and put in extra work to strengthen his mental skills. Here’s what you need to know:
- In 2012, Martín was selected to compete in the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup. He was crowned as a champion in 2014.
- In 2018, he won the Moto3 World Championship, stepping up to the up to the Moto2 class for 2019 and competing in MotoGP™ since 2021.
- Last season saw him securing 4 victories, 3 podiums and several TOP 10 finishes, battling until the last race to eventually miss out and finish second place overall, leaving him determined to succeed in 2024.
- In 2024, Jorge Martín extended his MotoGP title lead after the Malaysian GP by holding a 24-point lead over rival Pecco Bagnaia with only the season finale left in Barcelona.
- After another neck and neck season with Bagnaia and the championship lead swapping hands at every opportunity, Martín finally won the season finale race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and claimed his first ever MotoGP™ world title.
Describe to us how you felt after missing out on the championship last year? How long have you self-analyzed and what conclusion have you come to?
Losing a championship is always hard, but it also serves as a learning lesson for next year. And this is exactly what happened: I learned a lot of things and have improved in many aspects such as emotions, impulse control and managing critical moments. In addition to that, I am now better at enjoying the moment, which was more difficult for me before.
Did you prepare for the 2024 season any differently than the other ones after coming so close?
I prepared myself by thinking about everything that happened during the season, both the good and the bad. I trained a lot more and focused on everything I had failed to do during the year.
What have you changed in your mental approach during season 2024 – you seem more in control in all situations?
This season I have worked on different aspects than last season and some of them have been about personal control, managing emotions and knowing how to enjoy the moment at hand. My personal team is much more united, and I have been able to surround myself with people who help me on a daily basis and know how to manage my environment so that I am as comfortable as possible.
Have there been any changes in how you train or prepare psychically? It is a long season – how do you maintain focus and endurance?
The types of training have remained more or less the same, what I have changed is the duration and the technique. Cycling takes up most of my time, combined with strength training and some bike riding. I have also been able to manage my diet much better.
You and your archrival Pecco Bagnaia in the championship were once roommates in Moto3 – do you take the rivalry personally and what emotion did you bring to the title fight this year?
The rivalry is always the same with any rider, in the end we all have the same thing at stake and what you want is to beat the rider next to you, in front or behind, it doesn’t matter, but to win. I have a good relationship with Pecco, we have known each other for years and he is a great professional as well as a great rider. But it doesn’t make any difference to me whether it’s him or someone else who is racing for the title against me, I would do the same with anybody.
What are the three main factors that led to your overall career success in MotoGP™? What role does Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup play in it?
Perseverance, confidence and effort. These are three aspects that the Red Bull Rookies Cup gives you right from the start because the level there is very high, and you always must be focused to win.
When it gets super tough, what do you tell yourself to keep going?
I look back and see what I have achieved and who I have become. I look around me and see the team of people I have, both personally and professionally. And then I say, you have to take this forward.
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