The MotoGP Indonesia race highlights were dominated by a stunning upset on Sunday at the Mandalika circuit, where Spanish rookie Fermin Aldeguer claimed his first premier-class victory, dramatically altering the usual pecking order just one week before the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. This eventful race was also marked by the serious injury of six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, whose future participation in the upcoming rounds is uncertain.
Rookie Aldeguer’s Dominant Performance and Historic Win
At just 20 years old and with only 17 previous MotoGP starts, Fermin Aldeguer delivered an extraordinary display of skill, leaving seasoned competitors behind on the challenging Mandalika tarmac. After trading the lead with KTM’s Pedro Acosta through the early laps, Aldeguer pushed ahead halfway through and steadily increased his lead, finishing the 27-lap race more than six seconds clear of Acosta.
Aldeguer’s ride was marked by consistency and composure on an unforgiving track heated to nearly 60 degrees Celsius, demonstrating a pace and maturity beyond his years. This victory made him the second youngest winner in MotoGP history, just behind Marc Marquez’s record set in 2013.
This is a very special moment for me and all my people, for the Gresini team, for Ducati … to be a rookie, we are doing incredible work,
Aldeguer said.
Being 20 laps in front with a good pace without doing mistakes was difficult, a very long race. I didn’t do any big mistakes … when I saw seven laps left and nine seconds [of advantage], I started to think about a lot of things.
I was thinking about these things during the race … it was difficult, [but] this helped me to be focused,
he added.
Aldeguer’s confidence was evident as he headlined a weekend where many experienced riders struggled, with his victory considered a breakthrough performance for the young Spaniard and the Gresini Ducati team.
Marquez’s Injury Overshadows Race as Crash Ends Weekend Abruptly
While Aldeguer’s triumph captured headlines, the biggest story of the day was the unfortunate fall suffered by Marc Marquez. Just seven days after clinching his seventh MotoGP world title in Japan, Marquez’s weekend at Mandalika went from bad to worse, culminating in a severe crash on the first lap.
Marquez struggled all weekend at a circuit where he has yet to score a championship point since its debut in 2022. His problems began with two crashes during Friday practice, culminating in a poor ninth-place qualifying. In Sunday’s crash, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi collided with Marquez at over 200 km/h, leading to Marquez sliding heavily and landing hard on his right shoulder — the arm on which he has undergone four surgeries since 2020.
Following the crash, Marquez was taken to the track medical center before deciding to return to Madrid for further assessment. Early reports suggest a broken collarbone, casting doubt on his ability to compete in the imminent Australian, Malaysian, Portuguese, and Valencian rounds.
I feel sad right now because I hit again the right arm, and this time it’s the collarbone,
Marquez revealed.
It looks like the collarbone ligament is broken, but let’s see … we need to wait a bit to understand in Madrid what I have. But this is racing, these things happen.
It’s true that this time is not my mistake, but other times it was my mistake. Already Marco Bezzecchi came to me and said sorry. Unlucky for me I get injured, but … racing is like this.
We will come back to Madrid, listen to the doctors and what they say, and try to come back in a good way, come back as soon as possible. The plan is to fly as soon as possible to Madrid, fly tonight, and go straight away to the doctor and fix the collarbone because something is broken, I can feel [it].
Bezzecchi, who was hospitalized but suffered no fractures, was publicly apologized to by Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, acknowledging the gravity of the incident. The race stewards launched an investigation into the crash, which also claimed Bezzecchi’s race and added to the unusually high attrition on the day.
Race Chaos and Other Notable Performances
The Mandalika Grand Prix saw further drama unfold among top riders. Brad Binder, starting from 15th place, remarkably climbed close to a podium finish, coming in just behind teammate Pedro Acosta in second. Alex Rins re-emerged near the front, finishing strong after a long gap since his last notable results.
Francesco Bagnaia’s journey on the weekend was a stark contrast to his prior success in Japan. Despite taking pole and leading every lap at Motegi, Bagnaia struggled significantly in Indonesia, qualifying 16th and crashing out from last place during the race. Following his crash, he skipped the post-race media conference and expressed frustration at the unforeseen difficulties his team faced at Mandalika.
Very disappointing weekend, after what happened last week,
Bagnaia admitted.
“Pole position and winning both races. I was expecting to arrive here and … this track was never easy for me, but I always got good results. Last year I won the sprint race and finished third.
“I wasn’t able to find the same feeling as Motegi. I just struggled. We don’t have any answers for what happened this weekend.
“We just checked the data, and hope the engineers will find the solution for the next GPs and try to fight for the top three in the championship.
“I want to say sorry to the team for the crash. I was pushing, even if I was slower by 1.5secs, I’m saying sorry because I wanted to close the gap to the second-last and I just crashed.
Jack Miller also saw his race fade late. After maintaining a competitive position in the latter stages, the Ducati rider crashed with four laps remaining following an intense battle with teammate Franco Morbidelli and others.
I felt good hanging off the back of the group sitting three-tenths of a second behind them … every time I got on them, four bikes all in a row was turning the front tyre into chewing gum so I sat there biding my time,
Miller explained.
“Three laps from the end, ‘Franky’ [Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli] came past me at Turns 11-12 and the only reason we didn’t make contact was because I heard a bike when I shut the gas coming in on me, and then I was off the end of the track and ‘Diggia’ [Morbidelli’s teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio] came through as well.
“Next time I put the bike down on the left-hand side [of the tyre], I crashed. The tyres were a little bit dirty going out of the line … I was trying to stay with the group, and the next time I was on the left-hand side, I’m on my head.
“Unfortunate, but we showed good potential today, fighting for the podium in the group. It was nice to be there and be with these guys all the race, manage the tyre and ride what I felt was a semi-smart race. F**ked it up at the end, so disappointed with that.
I was happy with the position I was in and I was setting it up for the last bit of the race to try to hopefully make some moves on some guys when the chaos ensued, but we didn’t quite make it to that point.
Context and Challenges Affecting the Field at Mandalika
The Mandalika Grand Prix was contested by only 19 riders due to a series of absences and injuries. Maverick Vinales withdrew after qualifying due to a persistent left shoulder issue, while Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaró remained sidelined following right collarbone surgery from a prior crash. Fellow Aprilia rider Ai Ogura was also absent due to right wrist and hand injuries.
This reduced grid and high attrition rate contributed to the unpredictable, chaotic nature of the race, with just 14 riders reaching the finish line. The combination of the tough track conditions, extreme heat, and mechanical challenges played a major role in shaping the unique dynamics of the event.
Implications for Upcoming MotoGP Races and Championship Battles
The unexpected injuries and performances at Mandalika carry significant consequences for the championship landscape as the MotoGP circus moves on to Phillip Island and other rounds. Marc Marquez’s health and fitness remain a primary concern for Repsol Honda, as his injury may force him to miss crucial stages of the title fight, opening opportunities for rivals such as Francesco Bagnaia and Fermin Aldeguer to capitalize.
Aldeguer’s breakthrough establishes him as a new contender to watch, especially on tricky circuits or under challenging conditions, where his calm yet aggressive style appears perfectly suited. For Ducati and Gresini, the win is a major boost after mixed results elsewhere, while riders like Bagnaia and Miller seek to return to consistent form to hold off their competitors.
The Mandalika race’s intensity and incidents underscore the relentless pressures in MotoGP, where fortunes can turn instantly, and resilience is tested continually. Fans can expect high drama in upcoming events, with the title hunt more unpredictable than ever as teams and riders regroup following this dramatic weekend.
