Struggling with illnessꩵ and crashing♚ twice in Q2, Martin looked set for a very difficult Sprint race at the American MotoGP. 

But that was far from the case as Martin made a brilliant start from 12th befo🐟re moving꧅ into third following a mistake from Espargaro with a few laps remaining.

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"I was struggling a lot in qualifying," said Martin after the race. "In FP3 I felt super confidꦏent and had a really good pace to the top guys and was feeling great. 

"But I think the antibiotics did the work and in the race I was struggling a lot with my physical ♋condition. Anyway, the team did a great job repairing both bikes and we were ready to race. 

"We chose a bike that I thought was the good one but I had some issues in the race. Coming from 12th to third is not easy and I gave my 100%. Yesterday I was feeling worse so Sunda🍸y I should be feeling better to battle more.ꦯ"

In terms of the la༺st-lap fight with Espargaro, Martin held on after managing to defend his position superbly. 

Espargaro seemed to have greater speed mid-corner, but Martin remained unfazed by the Aprilia rider climb𒈔ing all over the back of his GP-23. 

Martin added: "As soon as I overtook him I felt so weak. I just waited ♛for his manoeuvre. I was just going slow and braking hard and I could use that to beat him. 

"I was super slow. But I was taking my time to understand how to manage the ꦡbattle. It wasn’t easy but I♌ was more clever than him."

Espargaro did att🐭empt a move in the final sector but ran wide as a result of Martin position his Ducati in the middle of the circuit on the approach to turn 19.

Espargaro confessed he was ‘too clean’ when speaking to : "I trie꧙d everything but I was too clean. He closed the line too much to avoid any contact and I was not able to go🙈 inside the corner. 

"I lost the front and I𝄹 knew that hℱe would pass me again on the inside. But you have to try, you have to try until the end."