Jorge Martin fears time is running out to fight for the 2023 MotoGP title after losing more ground to Francesco Bagnaia at the Red Bull Ring.
After closing to within 16 points of Bagnaia with a double victory at Sachsenring, Martin remains in second but has now dropped 62 points adrift of the reigning champion.
The Pramac Ducati rider returned to the top three for the first time since Germany on Saturday in Austria, but a long lap penalty for the main race dropped him back into the pack and he could only salvage seventh.
“I felt it was the best position I could achieve today starting from twelfth,” Martin said. “I did an amazing start and was with the podium group, but then went back to 14th. So I lost time overtaking a lot of riders and had to use too much rear tyre.
“It’s a pity because I had the pace to fight for – not first position – but for sure second was a real possibility. So now its three weekends where we lost our chance for the [GP] podium.”
While the MotoGP season is only at its midway stage, Martin believes another bad result next time in Barcelona will mean “we will have to fight for second”.
“I felt I was the only one who could put some pressure on [Bagnaia]. Maybe not for the win, because he was really fast at the end, but I feel I was the only one who could be closer.
“I was losing a little bit [to Bagnaia] on corner 9 but the rest I was really close or faster than him.
“So I hope we can put together a good qualifying in Montmelo because it will be key to battle for this championship, if not then we will have to fight for second.”
Martin: Sprint pile-up ‘not my fault’
Martin said he still didn’t accept the long lap penalty decision made by the FIM Stewards following the first turn pile-up in the Sprint race.
“No, no. I watched it a lot of times and I spoke with a lot of riders, like Randy Mamola, a lot of journalists… If you watch again and again you understand it was not my fault. It was just a combined situation,” said Martin.
“We have something [on Sunday] that was an even more aggressive from another rider and nothing happened.”
Adding that he did not receive an explanation: “I think they had to take somebody [for] a penalty, to punish for the action and they chose the easy option maybe.”
The Spaniard also regretted that the penalty decision came after the Sprint had finished and therefore compromised his chances in the full points Grand Prix.
“It’s a pity that if the Stewards are unable to do a penalty during a Sprint race then you have to get it during the main race, which is more important and if you are fighting for a championship it destroys your possibilities.”
Martin remains just six points clear of VR46 Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi, who was taken down in the Sprint pile-up, then finished third on Sunday.
Keyword: MotoGP Austria: 'Not my fault' - Jorge Martin maintains innocence | Montmelo ‘key for championship’