Jorge Martin goes fastest but reveals sickness: “I feel bad, really weak”
The Pramac Racing rider revealed afterwards that he came into the weekend in Texas feeling unwell and it hampered him throughout Friday.
Martin’s 2:02.178s in his time attack - coupled with a costly fall for championship leader Marco Bezzecchi - allowed him to edge Francesco Bagnaia’s earlier pace-setting time and emerge fastest despite his sickness.
“I’m happy about the result but we’re still far from our best,” Martin said.
“The bike is working well but I feel really bad, really weak. I need to recover.
“Because today was a really tough day.
“I had no strength so I feel like we struggled at every corner.
“But, happy. We found our way in the last half an hour of practice.
“I am confident that [on Saturday] we have time to work.
“I tried during practice to manage the physical side. To keep energy “for the end. It went well.
“[On Saturday] in FP3 it is important to work. I need to push.”
The sprint race in Texas is a 9pm (UK) on Saturday but it begs the question how an unwell Martin will emerge through a busy and intense Saturday format.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
