MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin on modern riding style, which sees not only the knee but also the shoulder of the riders very close to the asphalt in some corners
The inside knee on the ground: This has been familiar in the motorcycle world championship for decades. In the modern MotoGP era, the image of the inside shoulder on the ground has also become more and more common.
Marc Marquez was the founder of the new riding style. Since then, the eight-time motorcycle world champion has found many imitators when it comes to bringing not only the knee but also the shoulder as close as possible to the asphalt in full lean.
However, current MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin reveals that, at least in his case, the shoulder-emphasized riding style does not necessarily have to mean the search for more efficiency or a better lap time.
“To be honest, when I touch the ground with my shoulder, it’s basically just for show,” said Martin on the sidelines of the 2024 MotoGP season finale in Barcelona, where he secured the world title with third place in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“When I ride perfectly and am fully focused, then I come very close to the ground with my shoulder. But I only really touch the curb with this,” says Martin, pointing to his upper arm.
“If it ever comes to my shoulder touching the ground, it’s only because I’m messing around a bit,” admits the new MotoGP world champion, who will join the Aprilia factory team in 2025.
Fearlessly into the groove. BarcelonaTest pic.twitter.com/OkRufn41ME
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) November 19, 2024
At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the phenomenon of either the shoulder “flying” very close to the asphalt or even one of the shoulders touching the asphalt can often be observed, especially in turn 5.
In this very tight left-hander in the first sector of the track, Martin practiced his distinctive riding style not only on the final weekend of 2024 on his Pramac-Ducati (title photo), but also during the subsequent test for 2025 on the factory Aprilia.
