Jorge Martin has opened up about the challenges he faced earlier this year, admitting that he feared he might never win a championship title due to his struggles with mental health.

Martin revealed that heading into his fourth season in MotoGP, he was haunted by the fear of failure, even though he had already accepted losing the 2023 title to Francesco Bagnaia.

However, with the guidance of his psychologist, Xero Gasol, Martin managed to overcome these mental struggles. This transformation proved to be pivotal for him as he outperformed Bagnaia and won the title in the Barcelona finale.

Martin’s season included three race wins, seven sprint victories, and 16 podium finishes. These achievements made him the first rider in the MotoGP era to secure the title with a satellite team. Reflecting on his journey, Martin described the difficult start to the season:

“I was struggling with my mental health. Last season was great—even after finishing second, I was quite happy. But at the start of this year, I was full of fear. I was scared I would never become a MotoGP champion.”

Martin credited his coach for helping him shift his mindset. “I started focusing more on the hope of winning rather than the fear of losing,” he explained. “If I lose, it’s okay—I’m not dying. Life doesn’t end here. But I had lost hope—not just for myself, but for my team, my family, and everyone close to me.”

In 2023, Martin’s first title battle was derailed by many costly mistakes, including a crash while leading the Indonesian Grand Prix. Similar errors, such as missed victories in Jerez and Sachsenring, continued to haunt him. Yet, after the summer break, Martin came back stronger, especially as Bagnaia began throwing away key moments in the championship battle.

Martin emphasized that his turnaround in 2024 was due to a change in outlook. By focusing on the present and learning from past mistakes, he became a more resilient competitor.

“The key this year was to learn from the past and not repeat the same mistakes,” Martin said. “Mistakes are normal—we’re human. What’s important is to take the positives and say, ‘I’ll learn from this and move forward.’

“For me, living in the present has been crucial. The future is unpredictable, so I focused on improving from the past and giving 100% in every moment. That’s what made the difference.”