Martin emerged victorious in the sprint race at Le Mans and followed it up with a second-place finish in the main Grand Prix event, securing his first podium of the season. The highlight of his race was a battle with Marc Marquez for the runner-up position, which concluded when Marquez crashed on the penultimate lap.
The clash between Martin and Marquez at Le Mans served as a means to address the issues stemming from their collision in Portugal. Martin expressed his enjoyment of the intense battle, acknowledging the opportunity it provided to settle their differences on the track. Despite Marquez's speed and aggression, both riders respected each other's space. Martin attempted a strategic move in an area where he believed Marquez was struggling, leading to the latter's mistake and subsequent crash.
Martin expressed his satisfaction with achieving his first podium finish of the season in the main race, considering it a significant milestone. While he had shown strong performance in the sprint race, the Sunday podium carried greater importance. After the race, Martin and Marquez met in the TV compound, where Marquez congratulated him on their intense battle. Martin recognized Marquez as one of the toughest opponents to battle on the track and admitted to studying Marquez's previous race with Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia to learn how to overtake him, although it proved futile in the end.
Martin acknowledged that his fight with Marquez prevented him from challenging Marco Bezzecchi for the win. He recognized the need to improve his overtaking skills and manage front tire pressure when riding behind other competitors. Despite the missed opportunities, Martin remained optimistic about learning from the experience and applying those lessons in future races.
Overall, Martin's duel with Marquez at Le Mans was a significant milestone for him, marking his first podium finish in the main race of the season. The battle provided valuable lessons and highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in overtaking and tire management, which Martin aims to address in upcoming races.