Martín takes MotoGP lead after Bezzecchi crash, sends 'strength' to rival

Jorge Martín navigated a challenging Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix, securing a third-place finish that propelled him to the top of the world championship standings. The Spaniard's ascent came as a result of his teammate Marco Bezzecchi's crash, an incident that prompted an immediate outpouring of support from Martín.

"The first thing I want to do is send a lot of strength to Marco," Martín told reporters. "I saw the crash, I know what it's like to be there, I know what it's like to go to the hospital on a Sunday, and you don't want to see it happen to anyone, especially not a teammate, so all my strength."

Martín admitted that his own past injury, which he described as "a nightmare," made him particularly empathetic. He confessed that while he had envisioned returning to racing and competing for wins, leading the championship after ten races was beyond his expectations. "I imagined returning to ride a motorcycle, returning to fight for victories, but not being the leader after ten races," he said.

Reflecting on his performance, Martín noted that he is still not at 100% with the bike, especially in hot conditions. "I've had a year, a progression, there have been a couple of races where I've suffered more, here it seems we've found that speed again a bit, but I'm still not at my best with the bike, especially when it's hot, because I suffer a lot with the condition and the change of temperature," he explained.

Looking ahead, Martín described the championship as a "long-distance race, a marathon." He stressed his intention to remain focused on his own performance and continuous improvement. "We are not even halfway through, so there is still a lot left, I continue to focus on myself, and in the end, the important thing is to keep improving to have the tools and be prepared to fight when the time comes," he stated. Martín believes that all his past experiences, including the near-miss championship in 2023 and the difficult 2025 season, have prepared him for this moment, instilling in him the crucial "hunger and desire to keep wanting to fight to win."