Marco Bezzecchi produced a breathtaking late charge to deny rookie Fermin Aldeguer victory in a dramatic Indonesian MotoGP Sprint race at Mandalika on Saturday.
Aldeguer, who had been the standout Ducati rider all weekend, grabbed the holeshot ahead of KTM’s Pedro Acosta. But when Acosta crashed midway through, the Gresini rookie found himself 1.7s clear. Raul Fernandez briefly chased, before Bezzecchi – recovering from eighth on the grid – stormed through.
The Italian overhauled Fernandez with six laps to go, then relentlessly cut into Aldeguer’s advantage before pouncing with a decisive Turn 10 move on the final lap.
The podium was a repeat of the front row, with Bezzecchi flanked by Aldeguer and Fernandez. It was a career-first MotoGP rostrum for both Fernandez and Trackhouse Racing in their special Gulf livery.
Alex Marquez came home fourth, ahead of Honda pair Joan Mir and Luca Marini, though the latter faces investigation for a low-tyre-pressure infringement.
Newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez endured a scrappy race. A long-lap penalty for clashing with Alex Rins dropped him from seventh to 12th, but he salvaged the race to return to his original position. Meanwhile, factory Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia had a nightmare, tumbling to last place and lapping two seconds off the leaders’ pace.
All riders gambled on soft-soft tyres, except Acosta (hard front) and Brad Binder (medium front).
Marquez, who has yet to win a Sunday race at Mandalika, now needs two more grand prix victories from the final five rounds to surpass his record 13-win season in 2014.
The field was further depleted as Jorge Martin (injured), Ai Ogura (wrist), and Maverick Viñales (shoulder) all sat out, leaving just 19 starters.
