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MotoGP arrives in Indonesia. The fifteenth race of the year and the first of the Asian leg will take place in Mandalika. This is a pivotal moment in determining who will be the next World Champion, with only five races remaining after this one.
The Mandalika circuit, a recently constructed track, was built between 2019 and 2021. Although it's labeled a "Street Circuit," it has nothing in common with typical "Street Tracks." It's a relatively short track, measuring 4.313 kilometers. Over the years, the Mandalika circuit hasn't been kind to riders, causing some issues due to its asphalt.
From today until Sunday, September 29th, the action will be on the track. The time difference will obviously need to be considered. Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:50 AM on the night between Friday, September 27th, and Saturday, September 28th, with the Sprint and main race at 9:00 AM.
Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, the MotoGP World Champion in 2022 and 2023, has lost ground in the standings in recent rounds. His last victory was on August 18th in Austria, followed by two retirements in Aragon and the second Misano round. In between, he secured a second-place finish in the first Misano race, behind Marc Marquez.
Jorge Martin has gained significant points on the Turin-born rider, with two second-place finishes in Aragon and the last race in Misano. The Spanish rider from Prima Pramac Racing leads the standings with 341 points, holding a 24-point advantage over Bagnaia, who stands at 317 points.
In third place is another Ducati rider, Bastianini, with 282 points, closely followed by Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing) with 281 points. The Mandalika circuit favored Bagnaia last year when he claimed victory. In 2022, the Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira (KTM) triumphed.
