Martin: Pecco Bagnaia Surpasses Casey Stoner, So Where Does That Put Me?
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| Jorge Martin, source : Gridoto |
"In terms of riding, I have no reason to envy riders from other eras." Jorge Martin has openly admitted that he wishes a legend like Casey Stoner had been part of his MotoGP title battle.
Martin triumphed over Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez to secure the 2024 premier class championship, and he believes the quality of his competitors is key to determining how iconic his achievement will be remembered.
"Of course, I would have liked to compete for a world championship against the greatest riders—against Valentino Rossi, against Marc Marquez, who is still racing," Martin told AS.
"For example, competing against Stoner and many others I watched as a kid, sitting at home, watching motorcycle races.
"That’s where I’d like to see myself, and now I’m in that position.
"But ultimately, this is the era I’m in. Right now, there’s Pecco, and he’s the one I have to beat. And then there’s Marquez, who I also have to beat.
"I consider Marquez to be the greatest in history, alongside Valentino, and Pecco is now in that league. With the results Pecco has achieved, I think he’s already surpassed Stoner, for example.
"And I’ve beaten Pecco, so where does that leave me?
"I’m not saying this to brag. I stay grounded—I know there’s still so much more I need to achieve. But it’s clear to me that I consider myself to be on the same level in terms of sporting ability as those riders."
Martin emphasized that the value of a championship is determined by the caliber of competitors. "If your competitors are great, the championship holds more weight. If they’re not as strong, then the championship doesn’t feel as significant."
"I believe that in our current era, with Marquez, with Pecco… the level right now is extremely high. The value of this championship is very high.
"But in terms of marketing or reaching the kind of popularity that Valentino achieved, with his viewership numbers and merchandise sales, it’s nearly impossible to reach those figures.
"However, in terms of riding ability, I have no reason to envy riders from other eras."
Stoner’s Legacy
Casey Stoner won two MotoGP world titles—his first in 2007 with Ducati and his second in 2011 with Honda. His title with Ducati preceded a 15-year drought for the team before Bagnaia finally secured the championship in 2022.
Bagnaia’s consecutive titles have now placed him on par with Stoner in terms of accolades.
Valentino Rossi, meanwhile, holds nine world titles across all classes, and Marc Marquez has openly dreamed of equaling that record in the near future.
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