#INDONESIANGP KYT Race Report

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has returned to glory in the Tissot Sprint at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, remaining unstoppable in the 13-lap shootout. The reigning World Champion grabbed 12 points on Saturday, crossing the line in front of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), who finished a mere 0.107s behind as Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) took the final spot on the podium after a tense battle with 'The Beast'.

Meanwhile, there was another Championship twist in Indonesia, with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) crashing out of the lead, reducing his advantage to just 12 points ahead of Sunday.

Martin made a dream launch to the Sprint, charging to the front ahead of title rival Bagnaia, who braved the outside line on the run to Turn 1. The #89 pulled the pin on the opening lap, while Marc Marquez made ground at the start after qualifying from 12th on the grid.

Everything unfolded at the end of Lap 1, with Martin crashing out of the lead at the tricky Turn 16. The Championship leader remounted, setting sights on recovering some points on Saturday, with his closest rival, Bagnaia, now promoted into P1.

The battle for the podium began, with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Acosta and Marc Marquez starting their duel. The #93 soon made a move stick on Acosta on Lap 3, entering the top three positions as Acosta was soon under threat from Bastianini – seeing the rookie drop back to fifth.

It was a red-hot pace at the front, with the fastest lap soon placed in the hands of Bezzecchi before Bezzecchi had a huge moment on Lap 7, narrowly avoiding the reigning World Champion and dropping #72 to fourth.

Martin continued his recovering ride, launching into the top 15 and then the top 12, soon entering the top 10 after a move on Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Bastianini would edge closer to Marc Marquez in the closing laps, setting sights on a move with three laps remaining. ‘The Beast’ looked for an opportunity on Lap 12, making the move stick at Turn 10. The Italian was in second, with Bagnaia a further eight-tenths up the road.

On the final lap, Bagnaia kept his cool, returning to Sprint glory in another twist to an enthralling season, with the #1 crossing the line 0.107s ahead of the chasing Bastianini. It was an impressive final lap from Bastianini, beating Marc Marquez in third. The #93 added a further seven points to his Championship tally, which could prove to be crucial at the end of the season.

Behind the leading trio was Bezzecchi, who showed an encouraging pace in the early stages but was unable to recover ground that he lost after his mistake. The #72 had a comfortable advantage over Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), with the Italian able to leapfrog Acosta, who finished down in sixth. The rookie crossed the line with less than half a second advantage over Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).

Meanwhile, CASTROL Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco secured a remarkable eighth place. It was a standout ride from the Frenchman, crossing the line in front of the fighting-fit Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who took the final point. Martin was unable to finish higher than 10th, walking away with no points and 9.104s away from victory.

MOTOGP - RACE
Martin makes Sunday statement as Bagnaia’s late surge salvages podium

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) stormed to glory at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, with the #89 taking his first Sunday win since the French GP. ‘The Martinator’ looked unstoppable, claiming his first victory at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit after crashing out of the GP in both 2022 and 2023, as well as in the Tissot Sprint this season. Martin took a valuable 25 points in his Championship charge, extending his advantage from 12 to 21 as key rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) came home third after a late charge.

Between the two, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) pushed Martin hard in the early stages before being forced to settle for second, nevertheless moving up to fifth overall.

At the start, Martin made the dream launch, earning himself clear track ahead with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) in chase. Meanwhile, Bagnaia struggled on the opening lap, dropping to fourth before Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) found their way through - dropping the Italian to sixth.

Meanwhile, it was a dramatic first lap, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) crashing at Turn 3. The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards investigated the incident, with no further action taken.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was unable to repeat his magical Sprint launch, but the #93 still made ground in the opening stages. Marc Marquez started in 12th and was soon in seventh – setting sights on Bagnaia.

At the front, Martin set a red-hot pace, setting the fastest lap of the Grand Prix and extending his gap to 1.333s. Meanwhile, Acosta was on the attack, leaping into second position ahead of a charging Morbidelli in an impressive move for the rookie.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had an intense fight with Marc Marquez in the first nine laps. However, everything unfolded for the Italian, losing the front at the technical Turn 10 – dropping Di Giannantonio to 17th. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez' Championship chances then suffered a huge blow, with technical issues dropping the #93 out of contention on Lap 12 as he pulled off, bike on fire.

Behind Martin and Acosta, the battle for the podium then really began with Morbidelli, Bastianini, Bezzecchi and Bagnaia locked together on the circuit. Bastianini tried to overtake on Lap 16 before the key move came on Lap 17 – promoting ‘The Beast’ to third. It was then some incredible pace unleashed from Bastianini, edging closer at every sector to the leaders.

Bastianini’s rhythm was sensational, but then it all came apart with a crash on the entry to Turn 1 on Lap 21 – rider OK. It was a massive blow for the #23, dropping over 70 points behind Martin in the Championship as just 12 riders remained in the Indonesian Grand Prix, only two of whom were top title contenders.

Bagnaia’s momentum built from there on out, picking off Bezzecchi on Lap 22 before the move came for third place on Lap 23 – demoting Morbidelli to fourth. Acosta was a further three seconds up the road, a tough task for even a two-time MotoGP™ World Champion.

In the closing stages, Martin had a two-second advantage, controlling the pace and the race at the front. The #89 was unstoppable on the final lap, leading the charge and storming to victory by 1.404s over rookie Acosta. Meanwhile, Bagnaia took a valuable third, bagging some points which could prove to be crucial.

Fourth place was taken by Morbidelli, with the Italian showing a continuing to his impressive form. The #21 claimed the bragging rights over Bezzecchi, who rounded out the top five spots as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) crossed the line a further 4.558s behind in sixth and ended the day as the top Aprilia rider. Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) pulled off another stunning ride, finishing in seventh for the third GP in a row, beating Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to the line.

Meanwhile, Johann Zarco landed a ninth-place finish on an incredible day for the CASTROL Honda LCR squad, Honda's best of the season so far. The Frenchman finished ahead of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who took the final spot inside the top 10. Further back,  Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) took 11th after an attritional day which saw Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) demoted to 12th after a 16 second penalty due to tyre pressure.

Enea Bastianini NC

“Unfortunately I was too fast entering turn one. The goal for today was to take the win, but I struggled in the early part of the race; I lost the front on several occasions, and I wasn’t able to be as quick as I wanted. With ten laps in, the situation improved a lot: the bike was more stable, and this allowed me to open the throttle in a much more decisive way. I lost a little bit of time in trying to overtake Franco (Morbidelli), but once I got clear track ahead, the gap to the frontrunners kept getting smaller. Then I lost the front. With the pace I had, I think I could have caught Acosta, although I believe Martín was out of reach.”

Augusto Fernández NC

“A mechanical thing and this can happen but the positive part was that in the three laps before the issue I had a decent pace for the first time all weekend. So, we have something to check and figure out why. It means that I cannot wait to get to Japan and start work again on Friday.”

MOTO2
Canet converts pole to P1 as Ogura extends title advantage

Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) stormed to victory on Sunday at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia after a Mandalika masterclass. The #44 had a six-second advantage over the line, looking unstoppable throughout the Grand Prix as Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) could only take second. It was a huge day for Ogura, who took 20 vital Championship points, with closest title rival Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) crashing out. Meanwhile, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) worked hard in the 22-lap shootout, holding onto a strong third.

Ogura made an incredible launch at the start, storming into the lead ahead of Canet and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) at Turn 1. Canet quickly took the lead on the opening lap as Lopez began to make ground, charging into the podium places and overtaking Ogura at the end of Lap 1 - demoting the #79 to third.

It was a dramatic start to the Indonesian GP, with Jaume Masia (Preicanos Racing Team), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) and Xavi Cardelus (Fantic Racing) all having an early end to their day after separate incidents. Dixon would also put an end to his podium hopes after a crash of his own on Lap 3 - rider OK.

Meanwhile, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) stretched a magnificent gap in the opening stages, extending his advantage to over three seconds. Behind the #44 was Beta Tools Speed Up duo Lopez and Fermin Aldeguer, who battled for the podium positions. The #54 soon made a mistake on Lap 8, taking avoiding action and dropping down to ninth behind Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing).

A breathtaking battle for the podium began to unfold, with Ogura glued back on the back of Lopez as Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) chased behind. Ogura made a firm move on Lap 13, leaping into second and pulling the pin in an effort to close Canet’s six-second advantage.

Championship drama unfolded as Garcia crashed out of 10th position. It was zero points for the #3 as Ogura’s momentum continued to build, with the Japanese star setting sights on a further 20 points.

In the closing stages, Gonzalez made his first attempt on Lap 20, unable to make it stick with Binder waiting to pounce in P5. Gonzalez tried again on Lap 21, latched on the back of the #21. Meanwhile, Aldeguer continued his recovery ride, battling to seventh before bravely overtaking Roberts at the end of Lap 19 to enter sixth position. The #54 had an incredible late-race pace, overtaking Binder for fifth on the penultimate lap.

It was an intense final lap, with Canet and Ogura comfortably ahead all eyes were on the fight for third as Aldeguer charged into fourth, demoting Gonzalez to sixth. Things went from bad to worse for the #18, who dropped to ninth at the flag. Meanwhile, Canet would storm to victory, with a 6.218s advantage over Ogura as the final spot was secured by Lopez – fending off his teammate.

Aldeguer could only manage fourth in an encouraging ride for the #54, who had a sensational rhythm to beat Binder at the flag. The South African crossed the line a further 0.300s behind, with Roberts grabbing sixth. The #16 was defending from Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) at the line, with the 2022 Moto3 World Champion finishing in a solid seventh. Guevara finished in front of Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Tony Arbolino, with the Italian showing great pace to beat Gonzalez. The #18 finished 11 seconds adrift from Canet after a tough final lap, with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) bagging the final spot inside a talented top 10.

Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took 11th in a great finish for the Spaniard, who finished a mere 0.183s ahead of Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) in 12th. Round 14 winner Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was 13th at the line as Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™’s Albert Arenas took the final point.

However, Guevara would later be disqualified from the Indonesian Grand Prix after a technical infringement, promoting Arbolino into seventh, Gonzalez into eighth, Öncü into ninth and Ramirez inside the top 10 as the final point was handed to Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).

Jaume Masia NC

MOTO3 
Alonso steals victory from Fernandez as Veijer crashes in Indonesia

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) claims victory number nine of the season at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia and equals Romano Fenati with 13 wins in Moto3™. It was an impressive ride from the Colombian, who has a 97-point advantage in the Championship and has his first opportunity to wrap up the title in Japan. The #80 beat Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who finally had his chance to stand on a Grand Prix podium. The #31 missed out on victory by 0.085s, finishing ahead of BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz, who made it back-to-back podiums in Indonesia.

At the start, it was a sensational launch from Taiyo Furusato, leading the field through Turn 1 as polesitter Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) was demoted to P2 initially. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Fernandez were on the move on the opening lap.

Ortola had a double Long Lap to serve during the Grand Prix, taking his first on Lap 2 – dropping outside the points. The #48 served his second on Lap 4, dropping down to 19th. Ortola battled back to 11th before he was handed another Long Lap, this time for a shortcut at Turn 9, leaving the Spaniard with a lot of work to do.

It was an early end to the weekend for Filippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) after a crash in the opening stages. Honda Team Asia’s Arbi Aditama, Tatchakorn Buasri and Noah Dettwiler (CIP Green Power) also suffered incidents which brought an end to their hopes in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had a phenomenal start to the Grand Prix, carving his way from 14th on the grid to inside the front group. The #96 was soon inside the top five on Lap 8, continuing an impressive ride.

The usual Moto3™ train formed at the front, with positions changing hands at every opportunity as 10 riders battled for glory. Veijer pulled the pin, pushing to the limit before everything unfolded with a crash at Turn 8 – rider OK. It was a huge blow for the Dutchman’s title hopes, with Veijer now over 100 points behind Alonso.

The gloves were off in the closing stages, with Alonso charging into podium contention on Lap 17 before grabbing the lead for the first time. Furusato made a mistake at Turn 1, crashing out as Fernandez, Muñoz and SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Luca Lunetta had their go in P1.

Alonso entered the final lap in third, overtaking Muñoz at Turn 1 before launching an attack at Turn 10. The #80 pulled off an incredible final lap, charging to the line to snatch victory from Fernandez, who had his chance to stand on the podium. Muñoz made his podium return, landing third spot in a thrilling start to race day.

Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) bagged fourth at the line after a phenomenal ride in the closing stages of the Grand Prix. The #36 finished ahead of fellow Honda rider Lunetta, with the Italian rounding out the top five positions. Lunetta continues his impressive form, crossing the flag in front of Holgado, who recovered to a strong sixth. Tatsuki Suzuki finished as the sole Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP rider in seventh as Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) grabbed eighth at the flag.

Meanwhile, Ortola recovered to ninth after serving his penalties as Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA) took the final spot inside the top 10. The #10 was 0.010s behind Ortola in a huge group, which saw Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) take 11th and Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) take 12th as the final points went the way of Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda - MLav Racing), Joel Esteban (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA).

Adrian Fernandez P2

“I can't put it into words. It took a lot of effort, hard work and time, but we have finally made it. It hasn't been an easy road, but I can finally say that I have achieved my first podium in the World Championship. We are working in the right direction, and we have finally put in a solid weekend. We really needed it, and I'm happy to say that I have done it with Le0pard, the team that trusted me when I was at home. We took a weight off our shoulders today, but now we have to keep working like this for the remaining rounds of the season”

Riccardo Rossi NC

Tatchakorn Buasri NC

"Today was an unlucky day for me. I had a good start, gained positions, and was closing the gap to the riders in front. Unfortunately, a collision with another rider caused me to crash. Although I experienced some pain in my shoulder, a visit to the medical center revealed no serious injury. I hope to be ready for the next race in Japan. Moving forward, we’ll work harder and push from the start to achieve our goals."