The 2025 MotoGP World Championship crown may already be settled, but there’s still no shortage of intrigue as the paddock rolls into Lombok for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. Mandalika has quickly become a favourite stop on the calendar, combining a passionate fanbase with a unique backdrop, and this year promises plenty of headlines despite the title being wrapped up.

Fresh off his flawless weekend in Japan, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) touched down in Indonesia looking revitalised. His Sprint win and Grand Prix victory at Motegi marked his first double triumph since 2023, a signal that the two-time World Champion has rediscovered his sharp edge. He now has his eyes firmly set on second place in the standings.

Meanwhile, his teammate Marc Márquez arrives as the man of the moment. For the first time since 2019, the Spaniard begins a race weekend as the reigning King of MotoGP, his seventh crown sealed with an emotional win at Motegi. The celebrations have been rolling ever since, with Márquez himself joking that, “Yesterday I felt like Robert Plant!” as he compared his whirlwind title party to the legendary rocker’s wild days on tour.

In case you missed it: Márquez’s seventh crown

For those still catching up, Márquez’s latest achievement capped off one of the greatest redemption stories in sport. From the career-changing crash at Jerez in 2020 to the surgeries, setbacks, and relentless comebacks, his seventh title underlined a resilience few athletes in any discipline can match. The championship party may have ended, but the tributes continue.

Fans can relive the journey through the exclusive documentary More Than A Comeback, which features unseen moments and insights from Márquez and those closest to him. Broadcasters around the world have also replayed his title-sealing moment in their own unique ways, captured in How the World Heard, a compilation of the historic call made in multiple languages.

Thursday talking points from Mandalika

Not all the news was celebratory, however. On Thursday afternoon it was confirmed that Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) will miss the Indonesian GP as he continues to recover from injuries. The Japanese rider will take the time he needs before returning later in the season.

The official Pre-Event Press Conference then provided one of the first chances to hear from the riders on site. Alongside Bagnaia, Honda’s home-hero podium finisher Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fielded questions from the media. The trio spoke about their current form, their targets for the final stretch of the season, and the extra motivation that comes with racing at Mandalika.

• Bagnaia underlined his hunger to secure silver in the championship, determined to keep the momentum rolling after Motegi.
• Mir reflected on the steps Honda has made after his emotional podium at home, saying his aim now is to keep building and bring more success before year’s end.
• Morbidelli, racing with the backing of a passionate local sponsor, spoke of his determination to finish the year strongly and put on a show for the Indonesian fans.

News and features around the paddock

The week also brought some off-track headlines. Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) confirmed his move to the WorldSBK paddock for 2026, joining BMW in a major career shift. His reflections on the switch featured in this week’s GearUP show, offering fans a chance to hear first-hand how the Portuguese rider views his next chapter.

In Lombok itself, MotoGP continued a tradition that has quickly become a fan favourite: the riders’ parade through the streets of Mataram. The stars of the sport enjoyed a colourful welcome as thousands of locals lined the roads, waving flags, cheering, and showing the extraordinary passion that has made Indonesia such a key market for MotoGP.

This Week in MotoGP: Indonesia Welcomes the World

MotoGP’s relationship with Indonesia is long and passionate, stretching back nearly three decades. The sport first raced at the Sentul circuit in 1996 and 1997 before returning in 2022 to a brand-new home: the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit on the island of Lombok. Built as part of a major push to bring world-class racing to Southeast Asia, Mandalika officially opened in late 2021 and has quickly become a favourite fixture on the calendar.

Last season delivered no shortage of drama here. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took victory in the Tissot Sprint, just a tenth of a second clear of teammate Enea Bastianini in a nail-biting finish. Marc Márquez completed the podium in that race, showing flashes of his old brilliance. Sunday saw a shake-up as Bagnaia’s title rival Jorge Martín claimed the Grand Prix win, finishing ahead of Pedro Acosta and Bagnaia. Márquez, cruelly, was sidelined by a technical problem.

This year, the tradition continues with the Tissot Sprint podium once again set to take place in the fan zone at Mandalika, ensuring spectators get close to the stars. The now-annual riders’ parade is also back, cementing Indonesia’s reputation as one of the most enthusiastic MotoGP fanbases in the world.

Fans: Lombok’s passion on display

The excitement in Indonesia is unlike anywhere else. On Wednesday, riders travelled to Mataram, the capital of Lombok, for a colourful parade through the city. Starting at Taman Sangkareang and finishing at Taman Udayana, the event gave thousands of fans a chance to cheer their heroes in person. The parade ended with a special fan stage where the crowd could hear directly from the riders ahead of the race weekend, setting the tone for what promises to be another unforgettable Grand Prix.

Sporting: Márquez makes history, titles on the line

The biggest storyline coming into Lombok is Marc Márquez. The Spaniard is once again the King of MotoGP, clinching his seventh world title after an extraordinary comeback season. That achievement equals the tally of MotoGP Hall of Famer Valentino Rossi, and places him just one crown behind the legendary Giacomo Agostini’s record of eight. The statistic that stands out most? It took 2,184 days between Márquez’s sixth championship in 2019 and his return to glory in 2025 — the longest gap between titles in the history of the sport.

Other championships are also in play. The Ducati Lenovo Team are on the brink of sealing their fifth MotoGP Team World Championship, holding a 328-point lead over BK8 Gresini Racing. If they can leave Lombok with a margin of 264 or more, the title is theirs.

In the Independent Rider standings, Alex Márquez is closing in on his own milestone. A 144-point cushion over Franco Morbidelli means he could wrap up the Independent crown this weekend if he extends that advantage to more than 148.

The lower classes are just as intense. In Moto3™, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) leads by 93 points and needs to stretch that gap to 100 or more to be crowned World Champion on Sunday. That gives the young Spaniard his first match point of the season.

Promotion and prestige: Márquez in Jakarta

Marc Márquez’s championship has not only lit up the paddock — it’s also caught the eye of Indonesia itself. After sealing the title in Motegi, the seven-time champion travelled to Jakarta for a major media event at the new MotoGP Tower of Champions. On Tuesday, he was welcomed at the Merdeka Palace by the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, in a meeting that underscored just how much the sport means to the nation. It was a reminder that MotoGP is not just about racing, but also about cultural impact and global reach.

Racing for the future: inspiring the next generation

MotoGP is also focused on its legacy in Indonesia. On Friday, 200 local schoolchildren will be welcomed to Mandalika for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’ll tour the paddock, meet riders, and watch the action up close, giving them an introduction to the sport that could shape their future dreams.

The engagement doesn’t stop there. On Thursday morning, several Moto2 and Moto3 riders, joined by talents from the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, visited local schools to talk about safety, perseverance, and empowerment. These visits create a lasting connection between the paddock and the community, reinforcing Indonesia’s place at the heart of the MotoGP story.

Meanwhile, the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup continues its 2025 campaign alongside MotoGP this weekend. With Mandalika hosting the penultimate round before the finale in Malaysia, the stage is set for Asia’s rising stars to showcase their skills on one of the biggest platforms in the sport.

A weekend to savour

From Márquez’s remarkable return to glory, to Bagnaia’s hunt for silverware, to the future stars learning the ropes, the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia is once again shaping up as one of the highlights of the MotoGP season. Mandalika is more than just a circuit — it’s a celebration of motorsport passion, and this week proves exactly why.

Next up: lights out in Lombok

Friday marks the start of the on-track action as practice begins at the Mandalika International Circuit. With Bagnaia’s resurgence, Márquez unleashed, Honda’s return to the podium, and several riders still fighting for silverware, the Indonesian GP is shaping up as one of the highlights of the year.

The title may be decided, but the battles are far from over. Lombok awaits.

Images MotoGP