P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Martin "had big balls" to win vital Valencia MotoGP sprint
Martin came from sixth place on the grid and secured his ninth sprint win of the 2023 season. His title rival, Bagnaia, finished fifth due to struggles with his medium rear tire, reducing Martin’s championship deficit from 21 to 14 points. When asked if this was the ride of a champion, Martin humbly said no but expressed his happiness about pushing to the limit and fighting for victory despite his bike’s handling issues. Martin attributed his difficulties to riding behind other riders, which made it hard to change lines and affected the bike’s performance. Martin must aim for a win in the grand prix finale, as Bagnaia only needs to finish fifth to secure the championship. Martin expects other Ducati riders to support Bagnaia rather than challenge him, but he cannot control their actions. Martin had a challenging qualifying session due to another Michelin tire issue, which compromised his performance.
