Martin said, “It is obvious the team is not putting a great deal of effort or funds in to my side of the team, due to the underlying situation regarding my ride and team's lack of funds. We have had so many stupid, and potentially dangerous problems caused due to lack of experienced people. I have a fantastic crew chief and first mechanic but it's too much pressure on them and unfair to rely on two people to do the work of five when also, there's just not enough time even if it was possible. Therefore mistakes get made and it's as simple as that.”
Martin stayed on at Valencia for a test the next day and, following a first lap out oil leak, was able to consistently improve on his lap time to finish the day over a second faster than his best race lap time from the day before, on the same tyres and with a hotter and more slippery track surface.
Martin commented, “That test was probably the best test I have had with the team. We finally got the chance to work with the suspension settings and new electronic system and now I'm pretty confident we are in the best position that we have been in all year!
“So I'm looking forward to Assen as the bike should be ready to go when we get there as we've already achieved improvements from the one day test, rather than being in the usual situation of having to test new things on the Friday of the race meeting,” he said.
“We've got a week at home now before heading to Assen for the next round and in that time I'll be keeping up my training and looking for a new ride, as I now know that Monza will definitely be my last race with the DFX team,” commented the determined Aussie.
“I'm bitterly disappointed that the team hasn't delivered all that it promised at the start of the season but, at the same time, there is an element of relief over the situation as there is just no point continuing the season with just more of the same, as that no good for me or my bike crew,” he complained.
“Now I'm just trying to look onwards and upwards, enjoy the next two races as much as possible and do my best to sort out a ride for the rest of the season,” he concluded.
