Martin has momentum on his side after claiming victory in the Indian MotoGP sprint and finishing second in the main race while title rival Francesco Ba🔴gnaia crashed out.

And on day-one at Motegi it looked as though Martin held the advantage again before the reigning world chꩲampion popped into P2 late on.

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Not concerneꦿd, Martin’s race pace was very impressive and should put him in the mix to fight for victory, however, it’s one-lap pace that has the Spaniard concerneღd.

A difficult morning session despite topping it, Martin told MotoGP.cওom: "It was a strange morning. A lot of things happened inside my box. 

"Maybe you don’t realis🅷e but it was a bit of a disaster even though I was first in the morning. In the afternoon I was super competitive in terms of pace but I꧒ struggled to do a time attack lap. 

"I was fast but not fast enough to be close to Pecco and Brad. Even so, I was really competitive and had a good practice [s𝕴ession𝓀]. Hopefully tomorrow we can make another step."

Martin felt as though the issues over one-lap were due to a lack of traction coming out of the corn🦂ers.

That said, Martin feels enough good work was done to suggest he can be a threat to Bagnaia, who himself had a difficult secon𒊎d practice.

"The time attack is the place we need to improve," added Martin. "I feel like the rear grip on accel🦩eration is not the best we need to understand and improve. 

"But we are close. I’m confiden♚t🐼 and relaxed that my team will find improvements."