Jorge Martin “struggling” at Mandalika, says Marc Marquez’s pace is “better”
Martin couldn’t match his Aprilia team-mates in Practice and remains wary of title rival Marquez at Mandalika
Jorge Martin has admitted he faced difficulties during Friday practice at the Indonesian Grand Prix, finishing third quickest despite his team-mate Raul Fernandez setting the pace with a new lap record. The Spaniard attributed his struggles to tyre temperature issues, noting that the front tyre was getting cold and causing him to lose grip, leading to a 0.481-second deficit to the leading riders.
Despite his chief title rival Marc Marquez finishing two places behind in fifth, Martin expressed disappointment in his performance, feeling he couldn't maintain his pace and make consistent laps. He did, however, find his front tyre issues resolved in time trial sessions, allowing a faster lap. Martin is optimistic that Aprilia can address his tyre problems overnight, as they experienced a similar setback in Japan last weekend.
He remains cautious about Marquez's potential performance on the Ducati, acknowledging the reigning champion's speed but believing he has a chance to close the gap.
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