English
Italiano
Track record and pole position on Saturday afternoon, victory in the Sprint in the evening and then a 3rd place on Sunday: the first Qatar GP saw Jorge Martin as protagonist. Gino Borsoi, Pramac team manager, is satisfied with the start in 2024, despite the fact that nothing could be done against Bagnaia in the long race.
“On Saturday afternoon we still didn't have the bike, let's say, ready to be able to do a race like the one he did, he rode over all the problems and took a victory against all odds - explained Borsoi in an interview with Motorsport - We knew we were going to suffer and he put in the magic, he was the artist on Saturday afternoon with a bike that didn't arrive very well. On Sunday we didn't have the same problems as Saturday, much less, I would say, but he couldn't attack from minute one because we were in alarm because of the vibration problem and tyre consumption. We had to start very cautiously, not wanting to attack from the first moment and this excess of caution, from the first lap, is what prevented him from fighting with Bagnaia. Pecco did start strong without worrying too much about the tyre and we were very conservative. I think that's where we lost our chances to fight for the victory.”
There are another 40 races left to run and there is no shortage of time and opportunities to make up for it, but they will almost certainly be Martin's last with the colours of the Pramac team.
“I think Jorge's journey with the Pramac team, whether you like it or not, has come to a bit of an end - confirmed Gino - He has been there for many years, he started from his first year in MotoGP and we are in the fourth year. The next step has to be with an official bike, be it Ducati or whatever. He continues to prove that he is one of the fastest, or maybe the fastest or on par with Pecco, and he deserves, apart from a great season with us this year, to have a factory bike next year.”
Morbidelli, however, will have to fight for his renewal. Having missed all the winter tests certainly didn't help him, but the team manager at Losail saw progress from Franco.
"The outcome of Morbidelli's weekend is very positive, much better than expectations - he underlined - It was his first time on a Ducati, Tuesday in Valencia doesn't count due to the circumstances. The first real test for him was on Friday in Qatar , when the others came from five days of testing, all with a set-up, a speed and a calmness due to all the training they had already done. For him, every time he set foot on the circuit he discovered things, it's like a child starting walking. He made no mistakes. On Saturday he arrived 24 seconds behind the winner and on Sunday, with double the laps, he arrived at the same distance."
Gino also had no shortage of things to say about the performances of Acosta and Marquez.
“Pedro did what he had to do: attack and have fun. I think we'll soon see him up there fighting for something more" he predicted. And on Marc: “I think he had a more than intelligent weekend, bit by bit he's discovering the bike, he's understanding it, without making any mistakes. What would I say to Marc? I can't tell him anything, he knows infinitely better than me how to handle this situation."
