Martin wants action after fall that echoed Salom's fatal crash

4 hours ago 3
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Aprilia rider Jorge Martin wants MotoGP and the Barcelona circuit to take action after a crash that he feels "lucky" to be unhurt in - and which reminded him of Luis Salom's tragic passing at the same circuit.

Martin was a Moto3 sophomore 10 years ago when Salom, racing in Moto2, perished at this same circuit aged 24.

He crashed in the same section of the track as Martin on Friday, albeit in a different corner, Turn 13, and suffered fatal injuries from the impact with his bike after arriving into the airfence.

The MotoGP layout has been modified multiple times since, and Martin's crash came at Turn 12 - an uncommon place to crash - but also led to him following his bike into the airfence.

He took a big hit to his left forearm but was declared fit to continue with the weekend. However, he admitted at the conclusion of his Friday that a more serious outcome had appeared very plausible - and that he had thought of Salom as he slid towards the barrier, which he said was "absolutely" too close.

"I'm good. I feel lucky that nothing happened in the morning because it was a dangerous - and, for me, really scary - crash," he said.

"I think that it's really dangerous to crash there. I don't really like to say it - but it reminded me a lot about Luis Salom, when I was crashing I thought about him, straight away.

"Luckily the bike turned so I went into the fairing and not into the handlebars or another piece.

"For sure it's a place where they need to improve - because it's really dangerous."

Martin's call was backed up by Alex Marquez.

"It won't be the first time or the last time that we'll say that corner is not safe enough, but at the moment nothing has changed," he said.

"When you arrive there, you see the wall. I think last year, when [Alex] Rins crashed there, he hit the wall. I think it's something they need to solve.

"It's true that sometimes, for the grandstands and all that, it's difficult or a big change - but I think that there, we need it. Or to put more gravel, I think this also can be a solution."

Martin said the crash itself was no big mystery as he "had more lean angle and more brake than the lap before" and was seemingly caught out by front tyre temperature in the colder morning.

"I feel lucky that nothing happened to me today and I can continue working tomorrow," he added.

It was suggested in Spanish media that he had also been diagnosed with a concussion after the crash - which would be a serious concern for his continued riding.

"I feel good, I feel really good, luckily we have great doctors, I have great physios," Martin insisted when asked about his physical shape by The Race.

"In the second run [session] I didn't feel anything about the first crash."

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