Fermin Aldeguer secured his first MotoGP win on Sunday during the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika, capitalizing on a dramatic race incident involving Marco ‘Bez’ Bezzecchi. The 20-year-old rookie from Gresini Ducati took advantage after Bezzecchi’s collision early in the race removed the factory Aprilia rider from contention, reshaping the entire event. Aldeguer’s victory underscores the unpredictable nature of MotoGP and highlights his growing skill in managing tough race conditions.
Bezzecchi’s Dominance and Early Weekend Promise
Bezzecchi established himself as the rider to beat from the very start of the weekend. On Friday, he quickly adapted to the tricky conditions at Mandalika, leading free practice with a considerable margin that surprised many. Unlike typical Aprilia performances, where early setup can be difficult, Bezzecchi was immediately in control, posting a fastest sector time 0.408 seconds ahead of competitors and claiming pole position without struggle. His speed, particularly through the flowing sector two of the circuit—the area full of fast corners—proved virtually unmatched.
This level of performance took the team and observers by surprise, especially as other Aprilia riders and usual competitors struggled to match his pace. Raul Fernandez from the Trackhouse team made it onto the front row alongside Bezzecchi, showing relative improvement but still trailing the factory rider meaningfully. Bezzecchi’s early pace seemed to guarantee him strong Sunday race control, with his raw speed offering a notable advantage over rivals, particularly in tests of cornering speed and smoothness across the fast sweepers.
Challenges for Ducati and Other Riders Amid Tire Complications
While Bezzecchi thrived, many Ducati riders faced hurdles adapting to the harsher, ‘tropical-spec’ tires mandated for the race. Leading Ducati contenders, including Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, struggled badly with this setup. Marquez, in particular, failed to find his usual pace, qualifying only ninth and experiencing crashes during the weekend. The wider challenge the Ducati bikes faced underlined the significance of Aldeguer’s resilience, as he stood out as the sole Ducati rider seriously competitive in these difficult conditions.
Aprilias dominated the weekend, but the usual Ducati threat was notably absent due to tire management problems and lack of adaptation. The performance gap was clear, confirming that the weekend would hinge on equipment handling and rider skill in a highly unusual environment where many teams faltered.
The Crucial Sector Two: Bezzecchi’s Strength and Its Hidden Risk
The fastest sector of the track became the stage for the weekend’s drama. Bezzecchi’s supremacy in sector two was so pronounced he consistently beat rivals by substantial margins: nearly half a second faster than Marc Marquez during qualifying and maintaining similar leads through practice. This sector, featuring five sweeping corners, almost defined the racing style and pace potential for all competitors.
Despite his dominance, Bezzecchi’s exceptional speed contributed inadvertently to his downfall during the race. His blistering pace in this sector made it impossible to slow down sufficiently when encountering slower riders, setting the groundwork for a critical race incident on Sunday’s first lap.
Race Day Collision Between Bezzecchi and Marquez
Starting from pole, Bezzecchi failed to get a good start and found himself trapped behind Marc Marquez in the pack as they approached the swift corners of sector two. Attempting to pass, Bezzecchi collided with Marquez, taking both riders out of the race.
The crash shocked fans and analysts alike, sparking debate about Bezzecchi’s seemingly rash maneuver. However, analysis of lap times reveals the incident may have been driven by a combination of Bezzecchi’s overwhelming speed and Marquez’s unusual lack of pace in that critical section. Marquez’s slower sector times contrasted sharply with Bezzecchi’s blistering pace, suggesting that the collision was a product of tremendous speed differences where Bezzecchi had little margin to react.
While Bezzecchi could have handled the situation differently, no post-race comments from him were heard due to medical checks, leaving the exact explanation speculative. Still, the fundamental role of Bezzecchi’s sector two advantage in causing the accident remains clear.
Aldeguer’s Tactical Rise to the Lead After the Incident
With Bezzecchi out, the door opened for Aldeguer, who was running third behind KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Honda’s Luca Marini. Demonstrating sharp racecraft, Aldeguer passed Marini at Turn 12 on lap four and then overtook Acosta at Turn 10 by lap seven to seize the lead.
These maneuvers showed a significant leap in confidence and race intelligence from Aldeguer, who reflected on learning from previous difficulties. He remarked:
“I overtook Marini at the same place that I tried [to fight back] yesterday, on the last lap with Bez. And I overtook Pedro in the same corner that I lost yesterday in the sprint. I improved…”
Fermin Aldeguer
Aldeguer’s ability to capitalize on these moments emphasized his maturation as a rider throughout the weekend, moving beyond previous errors to execute critical overtakes cleanly under pressure.
Acosta’s Role in Controlling the Pack and Aldeguer’s Ascendancy
After falling behind Aldeguer, Acosta took on the unexpected role of pack blocker, slowing the chasing riders and allowing Aldeguer to build a sizable gap. This detachment grew to over seven seconds by lap 19 when Rins finally passed Acosta but left Aldeguer comfortably ahead. The strategic benefit of this scenario cannot be overstated, as Aldeguer was able to ride without the direct threat of close pursuers dictating his pace or pushing him beyond comfortable limits.
His measured riding was informed by sharp awareness of past crashes on this circuit, such as Jorge Martin’s incident in the previous year. Aldeguer explained his cautious yet confident approach:
“When I was on the bike, I remembered this crash of Jorge Martin. But sometimes it’s better to continue at your pace because if you maybe reduce the speed, you make more mistakes. I tried all the time to be focused. This pace of 30.8s, 30.7s was comfortable for me without going over the limit.”
The Influence of Tire Management on Aldeguer’s Victory
A crucial factor in Aldeguer’s success was his adept management of the new harder rear tire compound introduced for the race, which proved challenging for many riders. Aldeguer’s smooth throttle control and riding style suited the demanding tire, allowing him to maintain pace consistently while others struggled to avoid tire degradation.
He acknowledged this advantage post-race, stating:
“I think this new rear tyre here helped me, for sure, because we saw other riders, the other Ducatis, more on the limit. In Moto2, and also in Austria this year, [we have seen that] when the tyre is harder, I’m very fast. [That’s because] I manage the throttle very well. I do a good flow.”
This tire synergy was crucial in enabling Aldeguer to hold his advantage to the finish line, confirming his adaptability and precision in race equipment management.
A Victory Forged Through Timing and Tenacity
Aldeguer’s maiden MotoGP win at Mandalika was defined by a mix of circumstance and determination. The irony that Bezzecchi’s own record-setting speed indirectly led to his loss handed Aldeguer an opportunity he took fully. Aldeguer’s ability to maintain focus, execute critical overtakes, and manage tire performance reflects a promising talent emerging in MotoGP.
Looking ahead, this victory sets an important precedent for the rookie’s career trajectory, highlighting the importance of racecraft and strategic adaptability in a sport where high-speed margins can quickly alter fortunes.
