Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1530649
P64 FEATURE I 2024 CYCLE NEWS RIDER OF THE YEAR: JORGE MARTIN races differently and had gained some crucial perspective. "It's a big privilege to be here again," he said in Malaysia. "Last year, I lost it and nothing happened to me, so it wasn't the end of the world. And I'm here now." No question, this added calm - ness helped him keep a clear eye on the job at hand. In crucial bouts in Japan, Australia and Thailand, he held a points ad - vantage over Bagnaia. And not winning at each venue was not the end of the world if the reign - ing World Champion finished just ahead or behind. "The biggest step [Jorge] made is the mental side," crew chief Daniele Romagnoli told Cycle News. "He's now able to control his emotions much better and the approach to the race and qualifying. He's able to manage more his limit, controlling things well. If he gets passed, he doesn't try to pass back immediately. "In the past, it was more about instinct. Now, he is more in control even if there were that's everything in my life. This season I worked a lot on that to try to calm down, to try to live more in the moment, rather than the future." IN THE PAST IT WAS ABOUT INSTINCT; NOW HE'S IN CONTROL Martin may have won a Moto3 World Championship in 2018, but the pressure that comes with contending for motorcycle's top prize is a whole different sport. The Spaniard admitted he lost the enjoyment when scrap - ping with Bagnaia in the final part of 2023—he was just too tense, which was evident in cru - cial bouts in Qatar and Valencia. With that experience under his belt, Martin was a completely dif - ferent character in 2024. "I sleep much better now," he revealed in Japan. "Last season was really difficult to manage. It was like a nightmare. Even if I was winning, I didn't enjoy it at all." This time around, he viewed the exhaustive run of flyaway coach and recalibrating his out - look proved crucial as he main- tained his cool while repeatedly trading blows with Bagnaia in the season's flyaway stretch. And an ability to cope with the strain that comes with added media attention week in, week out also paid off. "Thanks to my coach, I im - proved a lot," Martin said. "[After a while] I was more focused on the hope of winning than on the fear of losing. I mean, if I lose, okay, I'm not dying. But I was with a lot of hope of winning. This helped me a lot." Another factor Martin had to control was an overactive mind. Never was that more apparent than the agonizing 10-day wait between the penultimate race in Malaysia and the season finale in Barcelona. That new outlook was crucial as he prepared to manage a healthy 24-point advantage. "My head's a machine of predicting the future! So I'm always trying to analyze. But Too many moments like these spoiled Francesco Bagnaia's chance at a third consecutive title.