MotoGP points leader Jorge Martin has boldly asserted that he is currently the “best rider” in the championship, backed by his impressive statistics. Despite a challenging race at the San Marino Grand Prix, which saw his points lead shrink from 26 to seven. Martin remains confident in his abilities.
In an interview with DAZN ahead of the Misano round, Martin shared his opinion on the top rider in MotoGP. “It’s very difficult to define what being the best rider means; it’s a somewhat ambiguous concept,” Martin began. “There’s a high level among the top contenders, including Pecco [Bagnaia], Marc [Marquez], Enea [Bastianini], and myself. We’re clearly a step ahead.”
Martin acknowledged the potential for perceived arrogance but firmly stated, “I think I’m the best rider right now. I have to keep refining my skills and improving, as stagnation can quickly see you drop from first to eighth in half a year. But I believe I’m currently the fastest, and the numbers support that claim.”
Martin has dominated in several key performance metrics this season. He leads the pole positions with five, ahead of Bagnaia’s two, Bastianini’s one, and others. Additionally, Martin boasts the most sprint wins, with four to his name, though Bagnaia trails closely with three. However, in grand prix victories, Martin has only secured two, while Bagnaia has claimed seven and Marquez has recently matched Martin’s tally.
Martin’s consistency throughout the 2024 season has been a cornerstone of his championship lead, having failed to score points on just three occasions. Despite Ducati’s decision to promote Marc Marquez to its factory team over him. Mar-tin is set to join factory Aprilia-squad in 2025, alongside Marco Bezzecchi, while Pramac Racing will switch to Yamaha machinery.
Reflecting on Ducati’s decision, Mar-tin admitted he felt like a “fool” but remains focused on his performance and future prospects. His confidence and statistical achievements underscore his claim as the leading rider in the current MotoGP season.
