All on the road in Lombok: extra twists and turns await MotoGP™ at Mandalika
Within the aftermath of a dramatic Emilia-Romagna GP, we’re heading for Indonesia and a complete new problem – with the title struggle finely poised
Tuesday, 24 September 2024
There’s no time to catch your breath as we head from Misano to Lombok and the very totally different Pertamina Mandalika Worldwide Circuit, with 24 factors in it on the prime and lots extra on provide. Indonesia loves MotoGP™ and so they’re about to get a present, with controversial strikes, swinging momentum and lots extra already having proved the calling card of the previous couple of rounds. So right here we go!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) now has that 24-point cushion on the prime, and that a part of the end result on Sunday – the optimistic – might have extra time to sink in on the journey to Lombok. He might have misplaced the race and in a method he thought was over the road, however his blunder within the flag-to-flag within the earlier occasion has been practically erased within the standings as reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Staff) made his personal error at Misano this time spherical. It might be an interesting one at Mandalika, which already has some pivotal historical past for each etched into its reminiscence: final yr, Martin took the factors lead on Saturday after which crashed out on Sunday, simply as a Bagnaia below stress made a historic cost to the win from P13 on the grid. The duo will likely be protagonists this weekend.
Then there’s Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Staff). One man’s perpetrator of that “over-the-line” transfer is one other man’s final lap hero. He’s acquired much less expertise at full health at Mandalika so he’ll wish to catch up fast, however Misano – even understanding his 100% MotoGP™ podium report on the venue – once more proved that a greater qualifying for the ‘Beast’ practically all the time ensures he’ll be a severe thread come Sunday, and/or earlier than. Can he maintain the momentum going slightly stronger than he did after his double at Silverstone?
Within the ever-changing scuffle over third total, in the meantime, Bastianini has pulled again forward of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) however by one single level. Marquez took one other podium to comply with up two wins on the bounce with some constant type, however he’ll need extra pure tempo this day out somewhat than a luck of the draw. He’s not gained right here – but? – and like Bastianini, has much less expertise of the venue at full health. And, after all, none on a Ducati.
THE CHASE IS ON
In the meantime, the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Staff duo head from their residence turf to that of Pertamina this weekend – no stress. Fabio Di Giannantonio stays simply forward within the standings regardless of his damage struggles, sizeable crash in Emilia-Romagna, after which tyre stress AND Lengthy Lap penalties, so the objective shall be clear for him: just a bit much less drama. Marco Bezzecchi, in the meantime, is closing in and now proper behind Diggia as he builds a stable run of pace and outcomes, together with a entrance row for San Marino and a prime 4 within the GP final day out. How will they shuffle in Indonesia?
Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) had a more durable second outing at Misano – having been proper up there first time spherical and brought his first Dash podium – so transferring again ahead would be the goal. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) shall be hoping for extra at a contemporary monitor, in his case. After preventing for the rostrum at Aragon, it didn’t appear to click on at Misano – however he can have the added problem of solely having taken taken half in a single session at Mandalika in 2023 as he withdrew to get better from an earlier crash.
MORE MORE MORE
At KTM and GASGAS, Misano teased greater than it in the end delivered. Brad Binder (Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) certified fourth for Emilia-Romagna and took a stable end result within the Dash, however behind rookie Pedro Acosta at Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3. Then on Sunday, each ended up crashing out from fairly stable prime fives, if not an opportunity at higher, in order that they’ll wish to try to bounce again. Teammates subsequent yr, the 2 are already enjoying some cat and mouse within the standings, and in who’s acquired what as soon as the lights exit. Jack Miller (Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) had a more durable time on tempo however took factors, and now his future is revealed he’ll wish to settle right into a rhythm to push ahead as we head for the flyaways. Augusto Fernandez at Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3 is identical for the latter however we await affirmation on the previous as rumours proceed to trace at a brand new position with a brand new manufacturing facility.
For Aprilia, the more durable run continued considerably final day out, however it was a particular uptick as Maverick Viñales took sixth and teammate Aleix Espargaro eighth. Miguel Oliveira has been of their postcode too, along with his Trackhouse Racing teammate Raul Fernandez now the rider trying to determine a step ahead. Final season Viñales put Aprilia on the rostrum in second so the Noale manufacturing facility will hope that earlier type has a say in our return in 2024. Oliveira, having taken the primary ever MotoGP™ win on the venue in 2022, will hope the identical.
ON THE UP
At Yamaha, there’s been loads to rejoice for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP) throughout the 2 occasions at Misano as he made it into back-to-back Q2s for the primary time this season. He then took two sevenths within the GP races – equalling his and Yamaha’s greatest results of the season so removed from Portugal. Heartbreakingly in Emilia-Romagna although, it was set to be fifth earlier than he seemingly ran out of gasoline. That might have additionally made Yamaha the second manufacturing facility residence on Sunday. He’s the one rider to by no means been off the rostrum at Mandalika and took his most up-to-date podium on the venue in 2023. His most up-to-date pole was additionally right here, in 2022.
Teammate Alex Rins, in the meantime, was sidelined final day out by way of sickness so he’ll wish to assault for factors as he returns. It is going to be fascinating to observe Yamaha tackle a venue with explicit situations and the place they’ve not had a number of current monitor time – however neither have their rivals. Quartararo’s type of late guarantees any small weak spot from the remainder shall be exploited.
Honda additionally had some key positives from Emilia-Romagna. After each Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Staff) and residential hero teammate Luca Marini have been compelled to take a seat out the San Marino GP, take two was particularly notable. Mir took P11, equalling Honda’s greatest end result this season up to now taken by Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) in Aragon, and Marini wasn’t far off him in twelfth. Flashes of progress have proven all through, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) additionally having taken Honda straight into Q2 not way back, and so they’ll wish to double down. Like Yamaha, it will likely be fascinating to see the place they shuffle in as monitor time and expertise on the venue drop from testing and two race weekends to a return to Mandalika.
Indonesia’s ardour for MotoGP™ is known and we’ll really feel it once more as early as Wednesday as many on the grid head to Mataram for a fan parade by way of town. Then it’s again in enterprise for one more beautiful weekend because the title struggle teases much more drama on turf that’s hosted loads of it earlier than.
SHOWTIME
Saturday
Tissot Dash: 15:00 (UTC +8)
Sunday
Grand Prix: 15:00 (UTC +8)
What’s taking place on the #IndonesianGP?
The joy for our return to Lombok will get in gear on Wednesday afternoon as a particular Riders Parade will happen at 16:00 native time (UTC +8) in Mataram. Ranging from Sangkareang Park, 12 MotoGP™ stars together with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Staff), Pedro Acosta (Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3), the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Staff duo of Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, plus residence hero Mario Aji (IDEMITSU Honda Staff Asia), will head by way of the streets of Mataram Metropolis on an open prime bus, ending at Udaya Park. The occasion will deliver the celebs of the present to the guts of our Indonesian fanbase, appearing as the right warm-up act for the remainder of the weekend.
On Thursday, the Press Conferences are 1h30 later than normal. The primary is at 17:30 native time with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Staff), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Staff) and Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), earlier than Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Staff) and teammate Marco Bezzecchi are joined by Fabio Quartararo (Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™) at 18:05.
Moto2™: can Ogura’s title chase momentum be halted in Indonesia?
A Moto2™ belter performed out on the Emilia-Romagna GP as three totally different riders led on the ultimate lap. The one who was in entrance when it mattered most was Celestino Vietti (Pink Bull KTM Ajo) because the Italian picked Aron Canet’s Fantic Racing-shaped pocket by 0.027s, as we noticed Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Staff) throw away a golden victory ticket after a mistake at Flip 14.
The trio handled us to an outstanding battle, and it was a pair of outcomes that stored Vietti and Canet in with an outdoor shout at nonetheless difficult for the title. For Arbolino, that’s three podiums within the final three races because the 2023 runner-up finds type heading into the closing phases of the marketing campaign.
Touching again on the Championship, following a P4 at Misano, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) has taken cost of the 2024 chase. 22 factors is the hole the Japanese rider holds heading to Indonesia after teammate Sergio Garcia crashed, whereas his three different closest pre-race rivals – Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing), Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Staff) – all didn’t beat the #79. In Dixon’s case, he too suffered a DNF – his first non-score for the reason that French GP.
A repeat of their 2023 Indonesian GP podiums for Aldeguer and Canet will go down a deal with this weekend, as we head to Asia with the Moto2™ title race nonetheless vast open. The momentum pendulum sits in Ogura’s camp, however will that change this weekend?
Moto3™: can the chasers reply or will Alonso proceed his 2024 surge?
After going two races with out standing on the rostrum, David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Staff) returned to the highest step on the Emilia-Romagna GP to win for the eighth time in 2024. The hole on the prime heading to Lombok? A whopping 82 factors. Positions within the Championship don’t get a lot stronger with six rounds to go, so it’s now or by no means for the chasers on the circuit Alonso completed P2 at in 2023.
The primary of these hunters is Daniel Holgado (Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3), who shall be hungry for a rostrum return after monitor limits caught the Spaniard out on the final lap. It was a small error that price Holgado a podium – and promoted Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) to P3 behind the extremely spectacular rookie, Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing).
The Dutch star is only one level additional again within the total standings after choosing up his seventh podium of the season, however for Holgado, Veijer and fifth place Emilia-Romagna GP finisher Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), it’s all about taking as many factors off Alonso as attainable earlier than it’s too late.
