Tardozzi (Ducati) after missing out on the Australian opportunity: “Jorge is a hero”

From Ducati Corse’s perspective, the Australian Grand Prix went almost perfectly for a long time. Although the crucial free practice session on dry tarmac was firmly in the hands of the Aprilia riders, following a wet qualifying session, the sprint – held on a track that had dried out again – saw three Ducati riders, alongside champion Marc Marquez, lead the field with three Desmo-racers at the front. Better still, Jorge Martin had come away empty-handed and was on his way to Melbourne for further examinations of his injuries.

Initially, there were strong indications that Martin would not only miss the Australian Grand Prix but would also be unable to compete in Malaysia. However, the medical check-up in the capital raised hopes, and Aprilia team manager Paolo Bonora confirmed that, based on the current information, Martin’s participation at Sepang cannot be ruled out.

A huge blow for the fans – a stroke of luck for Jorge Martin

And now the Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled as well. What is a huge blow for the fans at Phillip Island is a blessing in disguise for Jorge Martin. The still manageable points gap of 10 points following the failed sprint race remains unchanged until the sprint race in Malaysia.

Whilst the MotoGP riders were getting ready for a brief replacement parade, Ducati-Lenovo team principal Davide Tardozzi spoke soberly and with disappointment on camera: “It’s not what we wanted – not even for the fans. We’d have liked a completely different scenario for GP Sunday. But safety is the priority; that was the main issue. The fact that we’ve now missed the chance to score more points as a result is the lesser problem, even if it’s a bit of a stroke of luck for Jorge.”

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Foto: Gold and Goose

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With regard to the World Championship battle, Tardozzi came across as a sportsman unconcerned with politics: “I hope Jorge will be able to race in Malaysia. It’s understandable that he’ll do everything he can, also with the World Championship in mind, and strive to lose as few points as possible. Jorge is a fantastic rider and a MotoGP hero; he’s always capable of achieving extraordinary things.”

Instead of, ideally, travelling to Malaysia with a 35-point lead and avoiding a clash with Jorge Martin there, the reality is quite different. With just four MotoGP events remaining, the World Championship remains wide open. However, everything will depend on how quickly Jorge Martin can resume his pursuit of Tardozzi’s protégé, Marc Márquez.