Marco Bezzecchi’s victory in the Indonesian MotoGP Sprint came unexpectedly after a challenging race that began poorly for the Aprilia Racing rider. Starting from pole position on the Mandalika circuit, Bezzecchi’s difficult launch left him in eighth place on the first lap, but he gradually moved up the field, capitalizing on mistakes by competitors such as Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta to secure a remarkable win.
Struggling Start and Early Challenges
Bezzecchi’s start was notably slow, a factor that raised questions immediately after the race. Despite securing pole position, he lost significant ground off the line, which left him trailing behind the front runners initially. The rider admitted uncertainty about what caused the poor launch, expressing doubt whether the issue originated from his own error or technical factors.
During the initial laps, Bezzecchi steadily recovered positions. The crash of Pedro Acosta on lap five was a turning point, enabling him to enter the podium places. From there, he overtook Raul Fernandez and closed in on Fermin Aldeguer, who was leading the race. Although Aldeguer maintained a gap of 2.4 seconds, Bezzecchi’s pace on the Aprilia machine was faster, giving him a chance to challenge for the win in the final laps.
Final-Lap Tension and Last-Minute Overtake
Bezzecchi approached the last lap within fractions of a second behind Aldeguer. Despite feeling as though his opportunity to pass had slipped away, he found a way to close the gap in the tricky sectors of the track. He singled out sector two for its potential and hoped to launch an overtake on turn 10, which he described as one of the few spots suitable for passing on the Mandalika layout.
He explained,
“Fermin [Aldeguer] was super-good. I saw that I was super-quick in sector two and I said ‘Okay, let’s try to be close there and maybe try an overtake in turn 10,’ that is one of the few hotspots that we have – we have not many in this track.”
However, as he reached turn seven, Aldeguer’s excellent exit from turn eight pushed Bezzecchi back. At this moment, Bezzecchi believed his chance was gone. Yet, at turn nine, he took advantage of the slipstream and aggressively made the pass just before the finish line to claim victory.
He recalled,
“Then, in turn 11 and 12 he put the wheel inside and too close, I lost the front, and I expected him to pass me again, but I didn’t hear him so I said ‘Okay, maybe he’s not there’.”
– Marco Bezzecchi
Comparing Wins and Personal Reflections
This victory marked Bezzecchi’s second MotoGP Sprint win in three events, the previous one being at Misano, where he claimed lead following Marc Marquez’s crash after overtaking him. Despite the dramatic and contrasting nature of the Indonesian win, Bezzecchi expressed that neither victory felt superior to the other.
He shared,
“It’s not better, not worse, just different – a different feeling.”
– Marco Bezzecchi
Bezzecchi also highlighted the significance of home races and his general approach to racing:
“For sure Misano is my home grand prix but winning also like this is super-cool. But I don’t have a favourite one, I just want to make good races.”
– Marco Bezzecchi
Concerns Ahead of the Longer Race
While Bezzecchi’s comeback and win were impressive, he remained concerned about two main issues looking toward Sunday’s full race. The start, which had compromised him early in the Sprint, required analysis to avoid recurring problems. Additionally, tyre wear on the challenging Mandalika circuit was a critical factor, particularly given its impact on front tyre performance.
He commented on the need to improve his launch:
“[We need to] try to understand what happened in the start, try to make better tomorrow.”
– Marco Bezzecchi
Regarding tyres, he noted the difficulties facing riders, especially with the softer compound rear tyre, which tends to degrade quickly. Bezzecchi expressed mixed feelings about tyre choices considering the high wear encountered during the Sprint race.
He said,
“The longer race will be super-tough because here is a track where the tyres are always critical – especially also the front, not only the rear.”
And added,
“I have good confidence with the medium, I have decent confidence with the soft, but today the wear was quite big – okay, I had to push a lot. I don’t know, I have no idea.”
– Marco Bezzecchi
Technical Performance and Race Entertainment
Bezzecchi’s performance not only demonstrated technical skill but also delivered excitement on track, especially given his recovery from a less-than-ideal start. The fluctuating positions and the final lap battle added drama to the Indonesian MotoGP Sprint, making the race memorable for fans and teams alike.
This victory secures Bezzecchi’s growing reputation in MotoGP as a rider capable of strong pace and resilience under pressure. Moving forward, resolving starting issues and managing tyre strategy in the full race will be crucial for him to maintain competitiveness in Mandalika and beyond.
