Jorge Martin says Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi are “the perfect in historical past” in MotoGP however feels double world champion Francesco Bagnaia “is coming into that group”.
Martin and Bagnaia have been title rivals for the final two years, with the previous popping out on prime of their season-long duel in 2024.
The incoming Aprilia rider might have solely gained three grands prix to manufacturing facility Ducati counterpart Bagnaia’s 11, however consistency allowed Martin to win his first MotoGP crown by 10 factors on the closing spherical of the marketing campaign.
Turning into the primary impartial staff rider to win the title within the trendy period, Martin has stated since that he beat “the perfect model” of Bagnaia to take action.
In an interview with Spanish publication AS, he as soon as once more lavished reward on his chief rival, whereas additionally pondering the place he suits into the dialog about MotoGP’s finest.
“I believe Marquez is the perfect in historical past together with Valentino,” Martin stated, “and Pecco is coming into that group.
“With the outcomes he’s getting, for me he has already overwhelmed [Casey] Stoner, for instance.
“And I beat Pecco, so the place does that put me? I don’t imply to brag. I’ve my ft on the bottom, I do know I nonetheless have a protracted approach to go.
“Nevertheless it’s clear that I think about myself at his stage in sporting phrases.”
Whereas there’ll at all times be arguments as to what the perfect period of MotoGP is, Martin believes “the worth of this title may be very excessive” nonetheless.
“Clearly, I’d have appreciated to combat for the title towards the perfect riders: towards Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez – who continues to be on observe – or towards Stoner and most of the riders I watched from residence after I was a child.
“However ultimately it goes by moments. Now there may be Pecco and Marquez and it was them I needed to beat.
“I believe within the period we’re in proper now, the extent may be very excessive and the worth of this title may be very excessive.”
