Cycle News Staff | October 15, 2023
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Sunday Grand Prix
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) looked to be on the ropes as the sun went down on Saturday at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. What was a 66-point advantage over key rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) had become a seven-point deficit, and the number 1 had only managed eighth in the Tissot Sprint – from a P13 on the grid he would face for the Grand Prix race too. Martin, meanwhile, had streaked away to a fourth Sprint win on the bounce, the rider on form in every way. But Sunday was not, as it turned out, a day to defend for Bagnaia.
From lights out the number 1 was off on a mission, making quick work of the journey up into third. From there, he was chasing Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as Martin disappeared into the lead, and then came the truly pivotal moment of the Grand Prix. After achieving near perfection of late and taking that hard-fought lead on Saturday, the number 89 suddenly slid out at Turn 11 – leaving an open goal for Bagnaia. The reigning Champion didn’t miss, but he most definitely had to work hard for it – getting past Viñales late on before the Aprilia and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) both homed right in at the final corner.
Still, Pecco held on to leave a tough weekend at Mandalika with an 18-point lead as Viñales and Quartararo followed him home in the closest podium of the season so far. Pivotal? It could well prove so. It was also historic as Bagnaia became the first rider to win after qualifying off the front four rows in a dry race since the 2006 Turkish GP!
As the lights went out in Indonesia, Martin got the race start of all race starts as he shot into the lead from sixth on the grid. The Spaniard was absolutely flying too as he led the way from Viñales, already a few bike lengths clear, with Quartararo holding on in third.
Bagnaia just held on for a crucial victory.
Martin and Viñales began to check out as a queue started to build up behind Quartararo, but Bagnaia had been given the wake-up call on Sunday morning as he came out of the gates ready to race and carved his way through the riders ahead, climbing up from 13th on the grid to third by the start of Lap 3.
The drama was initially elsewhere. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed out, rider ok, and then Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went for a pickpocket on Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), but the South African made contact and the Italian slid out. Binder was given a Long Lap for it, and Marini did rejoin at least to do his he’d earned a few races ago.
The race then began to settle, but Martin was pulling the pin in the lead and breaking away from Viñales. Fastest lap after fastest lap came in from the number 89, the Pramac putting down a pace that no other could match as he went 2.7s clear of Viñales with 17 laps remaining.
They say to always expect the unexpected in motorcycle racing, however, and that statement proved itself true in MotoGP™ as Martin went from hero to zero in a matter of seconds. A costly mistake at Turn 11 saw his Prima Pramac Ducati bounce through the Indonesian gravel trap and that was that for this Grand Prix – with Bagnaia left with an open goal and now, only one machine ahead of him: Viñales.
Martin did a world of damage to his title hops with his Sunday crash.
Viñales may not have yet taken that win with Aprilia, but he’s no stranger to the top step and Bagnaia had to be patient to pull the number 12 back to within striking distance. The Italian took small chunks out of the Spaniard and slowly but surely was edging closer and closer.
As the reigning Champion got within touching distance, he didn’t waste time. It was a tense contest to watch but it didn’t seem it for those involved, with Pecco putting in a perfectly calculated move at Turn 10 to take the lead with 8 laps to go. From there, he started to ask big questions of Viñales on the chase.
In the meantime, all eyes were on Quartararo, who was still third but running faster than both riders ahead of him. And a LOT faster. It only took the 2021 World Champion a couple of laps to reel in Viñales, but passing him was going to prove to be a much tougher task.
They held station, but the race was far from over as both started to edge closer to Bagnaia. By two laps to go, we had three nationalities on three different manufacturers scrapping it out for victory – with the Championship leader and a little history on the line.
As the last lap started, it looked like Bagnaia had enough in hand. But the tension rose and rose as the Aprilia and the Yamaha steamrollered the gap, almost within striking distance by the final two corners. But neither could quite make a move and the Ducato crossed the line for a pivotal and historic win, with Bagnaia becoming the first rider to win from outside the top four rows in a dry race since Marco Melandri at the 2006 Turkish GP.
Quartararo continued his good form with another podium in third behind Vinales and Bagnaia.
All the talk heading into the weekend was about the Gresini Racing MotoGP™ team, and just as the Italian team signed Marc Marquez for the 2024 season, the very rider he replaced pulled out his best ride in the premier class. Fabio Di Giannantonio put on an impressive display to take 4th place, just +6.962s away from the victory, and four seconds up the road from proven race winner Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) as the number 72 raced through the pain barrier following that collarbone surgery last weekend.
Meanwhile, Binder watch. After the Long Lap following contact with Marini, the South African then committed a second offence as he got a little too close for comfort to Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and the Portuguese rider was forced well wide. That was a second Long Lap, but Binder still got stuck in to come back through to P6. Teammate Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was just over a second back in seventh as he managed to get the better of the returning Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) who had run off track earlier in the race.
Alex Rins (LCR Honda) was another who returned from injury. Ninth place was a positive result for the Spaniard as he finished eight seconds clear of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) who, after a strong start going with Quartararo, dropped right down the order to P10.
The 2023 MotoGP™ World Championship truly is the gift that keeps on giving. The pendulum has convincingly swung in both directions throughout the course of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. With the ball now back in Bagnaia’s court, you’re not going to want to miss any of the action as MotoGP™ heads to Philip Island in just one week’s time.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Sunday Grand Prix
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
|
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.306 |
| 3 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) |
+0.433 |
| 4 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+6.962 |
| 5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+11.111 |
| 6 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+11.228 |
| 7 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+12.474 |
| 8 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+12.684 |
| 9 |
Alex Rins |
(LCR Honda Castrol) |
+22.540 |
| 10 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+30.468 |
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto2 Grand Prix
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) put in an inch-perfect performance at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia as he edged closer to his second World Championship and first in the intermediate class. Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) tried all he could to challenge the Championship leader but was unable to keep the pace as he had his hands full trying to keep Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) at bay. The SpeedUp rider went on take 3rd place behind his fellow Spaniards.
Canet was sat on pole position as the revs were rising ahead of lights out in Mandalika. The race got underway and it was a good start for your polesitter, but cat-like reactions coupled with Turn 1 bravery saw Championship leader Acosta snatch the holeshot from the front of row two.
A Turn 1 collision between Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Alberto Surra (Forward Team) saw the latter both go down and Alcoba earn two Long Laps, but there was less drama at the front.
Acosta was squeaky clean for another Moto2 win to extend his championship lead.
Canet latched himself onto Acosta in the opening stages as Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) had his hands full with Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) as he tried to defend third place.
Lap by lap though, Acosta was now pulling away from Canet and Arbolino made his move on Gonzalez with 19 laps to go. But it wasn’t long before Aldeguer pushed his way through on the both of them to fly his way into podium contention. The Boscoscuro rider pulled away from the pair as he left them to fight it out for the scraps.
With 10 laps remaining Acosta had checked out with almost a 1.5s lead. The Spaniard was untouchable at the front as he hit his markers and set a blistering pace to take the victory by 2.044s.
That left Canet in a lonely 2nd place, but with Aldeguer making consistent inroads on his compatriot. Meanwhile, Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) had joined Arbolino and Gonzalez in the battle for fourth.
A mistake from the Brit then saw him lose touch with the battle, with Gonzalez now putting bike lengths into Arbolino. Up ahead though, with the chequered flag nearing, Aldeguer was making inroads on Canet as the hunt for P2 was on.
The Valencian had enough in the tank to pull the pin in the closing stages however and quickly responded to take 2nd place, 2.672s up the road from Aldeguer who rounded out the podium.
The Dixon vs Arbolino scrap raged on as the Brit recovered his time lost with 2 laps remaining and capitalized on a mistake from the Italian to demote him to P6. Dixon then had the bit between his teeth on the final lap as he chased down the distant Gonzalez to snatch 4th place from the Spaniard just moments before the flag.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto2 Grand Prix
| 1 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
|
| 2 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+2.044 |
| 3 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Speed Up Racing) |
+4.716 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+9.082 |
| 5 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) |
+9.309 |
| 6 |
Tony Arbolino |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+11.721 |
| 7 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+13.181 |
| 8 |
Sergio Garcia |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+15.095 |
| 9 |
Joe Roberts |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+18.296 |
| 10 |
Sam Lowes |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+19.165 |
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto3 Grand Prix
Epic action and a maiden victory were the main ingredients for a classic Moto3™ race at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) took his first Grand Prix victory after fending off the big hitters in an intense race-long scrap for the win. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) was also in the mix as he got elbows out to take second place in an epic last lap scrap with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), who rounded out the podium. Moreira’s victory is the first Grand Prix win for a Brazilian rider in any class since Alex Barros won at the 2005 Portuguese GP!
There was drama before the riders even lined up on the grid in Indonesia as Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) hit the deck on the sighting lap. The IntactGP team then rushed to get the Japanese rider’s Husqvarna ready to race and did manage to get it done in time.
The lights then went out and Moreira took the hole shot through Turn 1 but the nightmare continued for Sasaki, who struggled off the line and dropped all the through to the back of the pack.
Moriera held on for a first GP win in Indonesia.
The typical Moto3™ freight train then formed as Moreira led the way. The Brazilian had his hands full with the likes of Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Alonso, and Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) with several other Moto3™ big hitters keeping themselves in contention.
It was an all-out war on the circuit as the gloves were off and the riders proceeded to swap and change positions with the laps ticking away.
Whilst the battle raged on, a shortcut from Holgado wasn’t received lightly by the stewards as the Spaniard flew past Moreira to take the lead with seven laps to go.
The Tech3 rider saw red after taking his tour through the Long Lap loop. Now down in P10, Holgado bit the screen and pushed on to set the fastest lap of the race as he carved his way through the pack. With two laps to go Holgado hit the front again.
The last lap quickly came around and it was Moreira who led the way as he had Muñoz, Holgado, and Alonso directly in his rear view, with Masia also keeping himself in contention.
The group swapped paintwork and bashed bars as the lap went on and the Brazilian also had a scare as he exceeded track limits – but he then dropped anchor, let Holgado very purposefully past, and then tucked back in. In other words: a ready made case study in exactly what to do. And he was still glued right to the number 96’s rear wheel, so he attacked again – and held it for that stunning maiden win.
A brilliant last-corner move from Alonso consolidated his second place as he demoted Muñoz to the final rostrum spot, with two rookies – Veijer and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – taking fourth and fifth.
Holgado? He was relegated to P14 after failing to take the last Long Lap in time, gaining a time penalty in lieu. Championship leader Masia is therefore even more so as he finished in P6 in the Mandalika mayhem, and with his closest rival Sasaki failing to recover from his early race drama in 18th, the Spaniard extends his lead to 16 – with Holgado still in the hunt 17 adrift.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto3 Grand Prix
| 1 |
Diogo Moreira |
(Mt Helmets – Msi) |
|
| 2 |
David Alonso |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.107 |
| 3 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.130 |
| 4 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.190 |
| 5 |
Jose Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.483 |
| 6 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.544 |
| 7 |
Taiyo Furusato |
(Honda Team Asia) |
+0.811 |
| 8 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.855 |
| 9 |
Ivan Ortola |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+1.164 |
| 10 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
|
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Saturday News
VR46 Ducati men walking wounded
The Sprint wasn’t just remarkable for Jorge Martin’s feats; Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi scored podiums when far from
Marini was making his comeback after breaking his left collarbone three weeks ago in India. Bezzecchi was even more impressive, after suffering the same fate with his right last Saturday. He was operated on a day later, and decided to fly to Indonesia on Wednesday. He only arrived on the island of Lombok on Friday morning, hours before FP1.
It’s been tough times for the VR46 riders Bezzecchi and Marini.
“I decided to start on Wednesday morning, so pretty cool,” said the Italian. “Not everyone agreed. I tried to convince everyone, especially my mum! I came here not to fight for the championship but to keep myself in the game, close to them, not too far from them.”
Martin on another level
Jorge Martin rode to his fourth Sprint success in succession to the MotoGP World Championship for the first time, an impressive feat after his nervy qualifying when he crashed and placed just sixth.
Martin’s Sprint Race form has been impervious of late.
According to Aleix Espargaro, Martin’s performance was a feat only manageable when “in this zone – He’s really flying,” said the Aprilia man. “He didn’t have the pace to do what he did today. Everything he tries, overtaking on the dirty part of the track, he makes it. He found a balance. Bagnaia was in this zone the first three months of the championship. “But the difficult thing is not really to be in this zone; the difficult thing is to be in this zone 10 months. This is almost impossible. So, to find the balance, and when you have to finish 5th, finish 5th and not 10th, it’s the important thing. Now he’s unstoppable. It’s unbelievable.
Pecco insists: No Ducati team orders
Francesco Bagnaia was adamant Ducati should not enforce team orders even after team-mate Enea Bastianini was a thorn in his side through the day.
Bastianini’s late time in Q1 knocked Bagnaia out of the top two places, forcing him to start from 13th. From there, he could only manage eighth in the Sprint, one place and 0.7s back of his compatriot.
It’s all to play for with no team orders at Ducati.
Asked if Ducati should have intervened, the World champion said, “I will look crazy to say it, but we didn’t have team orders last year, so we don’t have this year [either]. We are eight riders with, not the same packages, but the same possibility to fight for the positions. This is the strategy from Ducati and I accept it. Why block a rider coming back from an injury and say ‘don’t improve your lap time because you have to let Pecco though?’”
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Saturday Sprint Race
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is the new MotoGP™ Championship leader! The number 89 pulled another momentous performance out the bag to keep that momentum rolling in style, coming through from sixth on the grid to take a fourth Tissot Sprint win in a row and with it securing a fourth Constructors’ Crown in a row for Ducati.
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) gave it a serious go though, coming home second from his maiden premier class pole, with teammate Marco Bezzecchi also seriously impressing as he took third after a late scrap with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). The tougher weekend continued for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he came home in P8, leaving him seven points off the top after earlier in the season having been 66 points clear.
Marini made a stellar start to take holeshot but it didn’t take long for Viñales to grab the lead and immediately put the hammer down, the number 12 streaking away in a matter of apexes. The front two were absolutely flying on Lap 1, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) in third at the head of a Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)-Martin train.
The first drama then saw Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) slide out on Lap 1, rider perfectly ok but losing his chance at grabbing some Saturday glory. Meanwhile, into Turn 1 next time around Martin chose his moment to attack Quartararo – but the Frenchman wasn’t for rolling over and hit back immediately. And then again further round the lap. Martin got it done on the third time of asking, but Marini in second was a fair few tenths gone.
Then, more drama. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) went for a move on Binder for fifth and got it all sorts of wrong, losing the front and collecting the South African as both slid out across the gravel. They rejoined and Binder took P19, but the Aprilia was forced to retire.
Viñaes led Marini by eight tenths with 10 to go, with Martin starting to creep closer to the Mooney VR46 rider and Quartararo left with a little breathing room behind after the Aleix Espargaro-Binder incident. The rider next up by then was Bezzecchi as he dispatched Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and started to harry the Frenchman.
Another Sprint Race gold for Jorge Martin over the injured VR46 riders Marini and Bezzecchi.
Martin then arrived at Marini and wasted no time with a clinical pickpocket on the Italian, taking over in second and left to chase the one rabbit left up ahead: Viñales. The Aprilia was nearly a second up the road and there were eight laps to go. But the gap started to come down, down, and down – and Marini was right with Martin too as the duo homed in.
Five to go saw Martin strike for gold and take the lead, and just as Viñales did early doors, the number 89 got the hammer absolutely down as soon as he was past. It seemed the Aprilia was struggling and soon enough, Marini was lining up an attack – with Bezzecchi now arriving on the scene too. Marini got past with a carbon copy of Martin’s maneuver and the number 72 was next up to have a go at the Aprilia. He had a nibble not long after but overcooked it as Viñales hit back, but how long could the Aprilia hold on?
Viñales held on until the very last lap, but Bezzecchi had it nailed on the final time of asking. The Mooney VR46 machine pulled alongside and pitched it perfectly, moving through for an incredible rostrum finish on Saturday, less than a week after that collarbone break and surgery.
Martin, up ahead, was unbothered to the flag. Marini made a charge but by the final lap the number 10 was forced to settle for second, coming home a second and a half off the Pramac. Bezzecchi completes the Sprint podium ahead of Viñales, with Quartararo taking a no-mean-feat fifth.
Di Giannantonio took his best Sprint result in sixth, ahead of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). And then came Bagnaia. It was a tough day at the office for the reigning Champion as he lost that lead and failed to make it out of Q1, and he’s got it all to do tomorrow too. What can he pull out the hat?
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, took the final point in P9 but it wasn’t quite enough, after Binder’s incident, to keep the Austrian marque in the Constructors’ fight.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Saturday Sprint Race
| 1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
|
| 2 |
Luca Marini |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+1.131 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+2.081 |
| 4 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+2.720 |
| 5 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) |
+3.121 |
| 6 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+4.203 |
| 7 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+4.981 |
| 8 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+5.465 |
| 9 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+7.852 |
| 10 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) |
+8.942 |
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—MotoGP Qualifying
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) really chose his moment to take a stunning maiden MotoGP™ pole. Aprilia came into super Saturday looking for a 1-2, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) sought passage from Q1, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) looked to capitalise and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) seemed like he could make life even more complicated for those just ahead of him in the Championship fight. But no, Saturday morning belongs to Marini as he emerged drama free from Q1 to take that impressive pole position. Main character energy, in the best way.
Aprilia were denied their 1-2 but complete the front row, continuing to look incredibly strong as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) takes second and Aleix Espargaro third.
Martin? He’s the first of the top three in the Championship, but down in sixth after a crash mid-way through Q2. Bezzecchi crashed earlier in the session and could only recover to ninth. Bagnaia, meanwhile, starts in P13 after missing the cut in Q1 for the first time this season, and in somewhat awkward circumstances.
Pole time for Marini in Indonesia.
Q1
The. Drama. Until the final minute and a half, it looked like everything was going more or less to plan for Bagnaia. He’d gone top before Marini pipped him to it with a new lap record, but then the worst kind of valid but awkward competition appeared: his teammate, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The ‘Beast’ put in a seriously hot lap of Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, and that was that: Pecco was out of Q2 for the first time this season.
Bastianini headed through just behind Marini, with Championship leader Bagnaia set to start P13 for both the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix race. Just to salt the wound a little more, both Marini AND Bastianini also have Long Laps to take on Sunday.
Q2
There was even more drama almost immediately as Bezzecchi took a tumble, rider ok and heading back to the box but racing against time and the pain barrier as he remains in recovery from that collarbone break.
The next drama was for Martin. He headed out wide late on on a lap, unsettled the bike and slid out across the run off. The race against time was even tighter for the number 89, having crashed later in the session than Bezzecchi and the clock ticking down
Meanwhile, Aprilia were making hay at the top of the pile. Aleix Espargaro led the way after the first runs and then improved his own time on the second, but Viñales had something more on Saturday morning and was able to hit back. Finally, right at the end of the session, Marini unleashed the pole position lap: a new lap record and the first ever lap in 1:29s at Mandalika. That was that, with Aprilia bumped down to second and third.
Behind Marini, Viñales and Aleix Espargaro, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) heads the second row after a strong performance at a venue he likewise impressed at last year. He’s got Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) alongside in that special Springboks helmet, with Martin at the end of Row 2.
Row three sees Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) take seventh and pip Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), with Bezzecchi moving up late on to take P9.
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the rider relegated to P10 with that late move, with the Aussie ahead of Bastianini and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team). Then comes Bagnaia.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 |
Luca Marini |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
1:29.978 |
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.031 |
| 3 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.154 |
| 4 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) |
+0.538 |
| 5 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.720 |
| 6 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.764 |
| 7 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.788 |
| 8 |
Marc Marquez |
(Repsol Honda Team) |
+0.886 |
| 9 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+0.930 |
| 10 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.992 |
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto2 Qualifying
As ever, it was a close affair in Moto2™ as the riders took to the Mandalika Circuit to decide the grid ahead of Sunday’s racing action. But this time around, it was CLOSE. Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) put himself in the perfect position as he still seeks to take his first victory in the class. The Spaniard’s 1:34.155 put him just +0.003s clear of his compatriot Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46) who was lighting up the timing screens in the closing moments. Just +0.019s covered the top three in Q2 as Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) put in a stellar performance to take the final front-row spot, and it’s 0.071 covering the top FIVE.
Canet nailed qualifying in Moto2.
Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) missed out on a front-row start by just +0.024s as he took P4. The newly signed 2024 MotoGP™ rider will be joined by Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) on row two. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) bagged 7th place to head row three in front of his fellow Brit Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) and Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (Fieten Olie Racing GP), with title challenger Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) taking a trip to the gravel trap and only rounding out the top ten.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 |
Arón Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
1:34.155 |
| 2 |
Manuel González |
(Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) |
+0.003 |
| 3 |
Filip Salac |
(Gresini Racing Moto2™) |
+0.019 |
| 4 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.043 |
| 5 |
Fermín Aldeguer |
(Speed Up Racing) |
+0.071 |
| 6 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+0.161 |
| 7 |
Jake Dixon |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.189 |
| 8 |
Sam Lowes |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.227 |
| 9 |
Zonta Van Den Goorbergh |
(RW Racing GP) |
+0.233 |
| 10 |
Tony Arbolino |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.256 |
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto3 Qualifying
Qualifying at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia went the way of Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) as the number 10 put down a 1:39.085 to top Q2 and take his first pole of the season. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) put in a clinical performance to bag another front row as he looks to increase his lead, however, and rounding out the front row will be David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) who ended the session +0.225s away from pole position in 3rd.
Moriera took his first pole of the season in Moto3.
From one rookie to another, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) just missed out on the front row by 0.053s as he’s set to head row two ahead of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia). Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) fronts row three in 7th place as he’s joined by Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounding out the top 10.
So where’s Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui oly Husqvarna Intact GP)? It was a tougher day at the office for the Japanese rider, currently second in the standings, and he’ll be looking to move forward from P11.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 |
Diogo Moreira |
(Mt Helmets – Msi) |
1:39.085 |
| 2 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.040 |
| 3 |
David Alonso |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.225 |
| 4 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.278 |
| 5 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.283 |
| 6 |
Taiyo Furusato |
(Honda Team Asia) |
+0.284 |
| 7 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull KTM Tech3) |
+0.341 |
| 8 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Rivacold Snipers Team) |
+0.358 |
| 9 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.381 |
| 10 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.388 |
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Friday News
It’s official: Marquez to Gresini Ducati
Thursday was Marc Marquez’s first opportunity to discuss his decision to leave Repsol Honda after eleven years to join Gresini Ducati. “It’s been the toughest decision of my career. Last week was hard from the emotional side, because all my staff, all my friends, all my family is there inside that box, all the sponsors. But sometimes you need to go out of your comfort zone, and my comfort zone was Honda.”
Marc Marquez reacting to the goat image posted on social media by Gresini racing.
The 32-year old revealed he had only made a final decision on the Tuesday that followed Motegi, where repeated meetings with Honda’s top brass failed to convince him to stay. The Gresini confirmation arrived so late, as he had only signed the contract on Thursday morning.
“The last four years I’ve been suffering a lot, I’m not enjoying, and I did a change to enjoy again on the race track. Because if not, there’s no meaning for me to continue racing and continue my career.” Marquez will move with just one crew member—Javi Ortiz—his tire and fuel technician –and Marquez will team up with crew chief Frankie Carchedi, who is currently working with Fabio Di Giannantonio and who took Joan Mir to the 2020 world title.
But Honda has many takers
With Marquez out and LCR Honda Team Owner Lucio Cecchinello adamant his 2024 signing Johann Zarco is staying put, Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig will have to look further afield for a replacement. Luckily, he has no shortage of interested parties.
Alberto Puig knows he’s far from out of good riders to fill the seat vacated by Marquez.
On Thursday Miguel Oliveira and Maverick Viñales said they’d be interested in taking on the challenge, even if both possess a contract with Aprilia for 2024. “It’s a pleasure to be considered to another manufacturer, such as big as Honda, especially when there’s a factory seat to offer,” said the Portuguese rider. When it was put to him, Team Principle Razlan Razali had said, “There’s no such thing as a clause that says that if he has a factory offer, he can leave Aprilia or RNF,” Oliveira replied, “that’s not true.” Zarco and Fabio Di Giannantonio also threw their names into the mix.
Most surprising of all was Aleix Espargaro, who didn’t rule himself out of the running. “Everything can happen,” he said.
Pol Espargaro kicked to the kerb
Pol Espargaro reflected on KTM’s brutal decision to relegate him to its test team in 2024 to make way for Moto2 superstar Pedro Acosta, despite having a contract for next year. The Catalan admitted he felt “anger,” but said he was now focused on “supporting the team and the factory in another way than I’ve been doing this year.”
Pol Espargaro was philosophical about being ditched for next year in favor of Pedro Acosta.
While his exact role has yet to be defined, it’s believed Espargaro will make several wild card appearances next year – rumors persist test riders will be allowed to race six times – as well as taking on testing duties and a role as a substitute rider.
While acknowledging KTM’s situation of having five contracted riders for just four seats was their making – “They didn’t make it well. This they know, it’s a responsibility for the manufacturer in the future” – he was also philosophical of the decision. “I need to take it in a mature way, in the most positive way and proactive way I can.”
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Friday
The opening day of the 2023 Indonesian MotoGP has perfectly set the stage for what is set to be a barnstorming weekend of action in Mandalika. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took top honors in Friday afternoon’s Practice as he turned his session around with a 1:30.474 after hitting the deck earlier on, and it’s his teammate Maverick Viñales in second as he also spent a lot of Friday towards the top end of the timing screens.
The headlines kept coming from there on out as a battered and bruised Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) took third despite an FP1 crash AND coming back from recent collarbone surgery, with reigning Champion and Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) more on the back foot after a late mistake sees him heading for Q1.
Aleix Espargaro was back to his best on Friday, topping the combined times.
With Friday afternoon’s Practice session deciding who goes through to Q2, the riders spent the majority of the session working on their race packages before putting in those late time attacks. With six minutes remaining, all riders were in the pits ready to fight for the all-important top 10, and the battle was about to commence with only a few bankers already set.
Bezzecchi already had his flyer in and was top of the pile after a heroic effort saw him move the goalposts at the 10-minute mark. But Aleix Espargaro had fire in his belly after crashing out of what was set to be a very hot lap earlier on, in the final five minutes he changed the benchmark time once more to smash the lap record and stamp some authority on Friday’s running.
With the Aprilia on rails around Mandalika, Espargaro was then joined by teammate Viñales as the factory Aprilia duo took the top two spots to demote Bezzecchi to P3.
Vinales made it an Aprilia 1-2 on Friday.
Bagnaia was very much in the danger zone after leaving it to his very last lap of the session to put in a hot lap. With the chequered flag already out Bagnaia was sat outside of the top 10 but was motoring on, on course for a personal best. It looked as if the Champ’s lap was looking pretty safe until a big moment in the latter part of the lap saw his flyer scrapped, heading off at Turn 15 after a moment – and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) then also crashing out almost in tandem.
Now with just a 3-point advantage over his title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Bagnaia will be forced to go through Q1 with Martin comfortably sat in the top five just behind Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who took fourth.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was next up in 6th. The Spaniard has been all over recent headlines after his switch to Gresini Racing MotoGP™ for 2024 was announced, but is proving there are still very much six Grands Prix remaining this year for him to keep pushing.
Marco Bezzecchi was heroic after breaking his collarbone last week to go third.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), the rider Marc Marquez will be replacing, finished just behind the eight-time champ in P8, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) taking the final two Q2 spots in 9th and 10th.
There’s plenty of competition Bagnaia will have to contend with, as Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) will all be eyeing up the top two spots.
Equally with the Aprilia looking like a fine package in Indonesia, the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team riders Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira cannot be discounted either.
2023 Indonesian MotoGP—Friday Results
| 1 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
1:30.474 |
| 2 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.154 |
| 3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(MooneyVR46 Racing) |
+0.170 |
| 4 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.288 |
| 5 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.400 |
| 6 |
Marc Marquez |
(Repsol Honda Team) |
+0.632 |
| 7 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) |
+0.725 |
| 8 |
Fabio Di Giannantionio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.733 |
| 9 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.742s |
| 10 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Monster Enewrgy Yamaha MotoGP™) |
+0.755s |
2023 Indonesian Moto2—Friday
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) proved what he’s made of on Day 1 at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. The Championship leader topped the timesheets with a new lap record 1:34.456 saw him snatch the top spot as the day came to a close. Before Acosta pulled the pin it was Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) who was leading the way. The Spaniard heads the chasing pack after falling 0.180s short of his compatriot’s time, with Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) also enjoying life in Mandalika to end Day 1 in P3.
Pedro Acosta is crushing them in Moto2 right now and went fastest on Friday.
Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) was another who took well to the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit. The Spaniard just missed out on the top three by 0.091s as he took fourth place ahead of Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) who rounded out the top five.
Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) had a positive start to his weekend as he bagged P6, ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp). Aldeguer also made an incredible front-end save and was just 0.024s back from the Brit in P7. Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) takes eighth ahead of second in the Champioship, Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team). The Italian has some work to do as he finished the day 0.597s away from Acosta in P9. Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40) rounded out the top ten.
2023 Indonesian Moto2—Friday Results
| 1 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
1:34.456 |
| 2 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.180 |
| 3 |
Sam Lowes |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.222 |
| 4 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) |
+0.313 |
| 5 |
Ai Ogura |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+0.324 |
| 6 |
Jake Dixon |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.514 |
| 7 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Speed Up Racing) |
+0.538 |
| 8 |
Albert Arenas |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.587 |
| 9 |
Tony Arbolino |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.597 |
| 10 |
Sergio Garcia |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.701 |
2023 Indonesian Moto3—Friday
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) found an extra gear on the opening day of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia as he went top with a 1:39.855 new lap record. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) was looking very strong as well as he took P2 and was the only other rider in the 1:39 club, just +0.232s shy of the top time. Leopard Racing’s Jaume Masia rounded out the top three, but after an slightly more adventurous morning than the Championship leader would have liked with two crashes in P1.
P1 on Friday for Deniz Oncu in Moto3.
Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) had another strong showing as he found himself in P4 on day 1, ahead of Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna IntactGP) who rounded out the top five, the Japanese rider now second in the Championship.
Former leader and still very much key contender Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was +0.415s off the pace, but ends Day 1 in P6 with his compatriot David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) bagging P7. Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was just 0.020s further back in P8, and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) lost out to the SIC58 machine by only 0.005. Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse) rounded out the top ten.
2023 Indonesian Moto2—Friday Results
| 1 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
1:39.855 |
| 2 |
Diogo Moreira |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.132 |
| 3 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.232 |
| 4 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Rivacold Snipers Team) |
+0.254 |
| 5 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.354 |
| 6 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull KTM Tech3) |
+0.415 |
| 7 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.582 |
| 8 |
Ricardo Rossi |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+0.602 |
| 9 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.607 |
| 10 |
Kaito Toba |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+0.757 |
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