MotoGP Sunday Indonesia

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

Jorge Martin Secures Victory in Indonesia, Acosta Returns to the Podium, Bagnaia Takes Third, Bastianini Crashes, and Marquez Faces Technical Issues

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) claimed a stunning victory at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, marking his first Sunday win since the French GP. The #89 rider was unstoppable, taking his first triumph at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit after previous crashes in the 2022 and 2023 GPs, as well as in the Tissot Sprint this season. Martin’s win earned him 25 crucial points, expanding his championship lead from 12 to 21 points as his main rival, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), finished third after a strong late push.

Pedro Acosta Shines in Second Place

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) put up a fierce challenge to Martin in the early stages but eventually settled for second, moving up to fifth in the overall standings. Despite being a rookie, Acosta continues to impress with his consistent performances.

Early Race Drama

Martin got off to a perfect start, with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) giving chase. Bagnaia, on the other hand, struggled off the line, dropping to fourth and then losing positions to Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), sliding down to sixth.

The first lap was chaotic, with multiple riders crashing at Turn 3, including Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team). After a review, no further action was taken by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), although unable to replicate his Sprint performance, made significant progress early in the race. Starting from 12th, he quickly climbed to seventh, targeting Bagnaia ahead.

Martin Sets the Pace, Acosta and Morbidelli Battle for the Podium

At the front, Martin set a blistering pace, recording the fastest lap of the race and pulling a 1.333-second lead. Acosta made a move into second, with Morbidelli impressively taking third in the early laps.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) engaged in a fierce battle with Marc Marquez for several laps before crashing at Turn 10, dropping him to 17th. Marquez’s race soon took a disastrous turn, as a technical issue on Lap 12 forced him to retire, his bike catching fire in the process.

Intense Mid-Race Podium Battle

With Martin and Acosta firmly in the lead, the fight for the final podium spot heated up. Morbidelli, Bastianini, Bezzecchi, and Bagnaia were locked in a tight battle. Bastianini moved into third on Lap 17 with an impressive overtake, showing incredible speed as he closed in on the leaders.

However, disaster struck for Bastianini on Lap 21 as he crashed at Turn 1, ending his podium hopes and dropping him more than 70 points behind Martin in the championship standings. With only 12 riders remaining, Bagnaia capitalized, passing Bezzecchi on Lap 22 and then overtaking Morbidelli on Lap 23 to claim third place.

Final Laps: Martin Dominates, Bagnaia Secures Third

In the final laps, Martin maintained a comfortable two-second lead, controlling the race to cross the finish line 1.404 seconds ahead of Acosta. Bagnaia’s late surge earned him a valuable third-place finish, collecting crucial points in the title fight.

Morbidelli took fourth, continuing his impressive form, while Bezzecchi rounded out the top five. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) finished sixth, 4.558 seconds behind Bezzecchi, claiming the top spot among Aprilia riders. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) delivered another solid performance, finishing seventh for the third consecutive race, narrowly beating Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Honda’s Best Finish of the Season

Johann Zarco secured ninth place for the CASTROL Honda LCR team, marking Honda’s best result of the season. He finished ahead of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who completed the top 10. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) finished 11th, while Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) ended 12th after receiving a 16-second penalty for tire pressure violations.

Looking Ahead to Japan

Following an action-packed weekend in Indonesia, the MotoGP™ championship heads to Japan for the Motul Grand Prix at the iconic Mobility Resort Motegi. With Martin extending his championship lead, the battle intensifies. Will it come down to a two-rider fight, or could we see more surprises? Join us in Japan for what promises to be an exciting showdown!

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