Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin have given their thoughts on their battle for the lead at the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix, with the latter calling it “a great battle for history”.
The pair started side by side on the grid, with Bagnaia on pole, and took the holeshot at Turn 1 off the line in the 19-lap Sepang Grand Prix.
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Over the first three laps there were eleven overtakes between the pair for the lead with the championship on the line.
Bagnaia eventually came out on top and went on to win his 10th Grand Prix of the season by 3.1 seconds, cutting Martin’s championship lead to 24 points, forcing a final round showdown.
Martin’s opinion in the battle was: “It was a great race. I enjoyed it very much.
“Thanks to Pecco, because even though we were so aggressive between the two of us, there is always respect.
“We don’t want to race to destroy the other’s race. We want to win, both of us. So I think it was a fun show for the fans.
Bagnaia felt the fight was “very on the limit” but saw no problems with it.
“He was stronger in turn five, he won a lot there,” said Bagnaia.
“But I was very strong in all corners. And I think that to overtake me, to attack me, he had to go over the limit.
“Twice I saw him losing the front again and the fight was very much on the limit.
“But I could brake very well and in the last corner I always attacked at the maximum, and that was the right strategy.”
Bagnaia said after the race that he had no intention of backing Martin in the chasing pack as that would not have been “fair” in their battle for the championship.
The tough battle between the pair at Sepang and the subsequent positive response characterizes the respect that remained between the pair during their title fight in 2024.
“For me it’s very easy because I’m not the type of guy who wants to be rude off the track, and on the track have to be rude and aggressive, and be the one who doesn’t respect my rivals. ” said Bagnaia when asked how he maintains his cordial relationship with Martin.
“I have never been like this and never will be like this. In case Jorge starts doing it, I will change, but Jorge is more or less the same as me.
“So respect is certainly the most important thing and always will be from my point of view. So I don’t understand why we have to be enemies off the court, not talk to each other or be rude.”
Martin adds that this respect between the pair stems from their time as teammates in Moto3 ten years ago.
“I think we have known each other a lot since 2015,” the Pramac rider noted.
“We used to be really good friends. Now we no longer have that relationship, but we are good to each other. We can fight.
“You saw it today: it was a great battle for history. Maybe not the last laps, but it was great.
“And then we can talk about it, I think we both enjoyed it. If it will be like this in the future, it will be perfect for me, and I hope it will always remain like that.”
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