Image: from MotoGP X @MotoGP
Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
Marco Bezzecchi delivered a thrilling performance in Saturday’s (4) MotoGP Sprint race at the Indonesian Grand Prix, held at the Mandalika Circuit. After a poor start, the Aprilia Racing rider mounted a spectacular comeback, overtaking rookie Fermín Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) on the final lap to take a memorable victory. Raúl Fernández (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) rounded out the podium, celebrating his first-ever top-three finish in the premier class.
The Sprint got off to a chaotic start as Bezzecchi dropped several positions into the first corner. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) briefly led after an excellent launch but ran wide, opening the door for Aldeguer, Fernández, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Further back, Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) tangled with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and was handed a long-lap penalty, which he served on lap three, falling to 13th place.
At the front, Aldeguer opened a half-second lead over Acosta, but the race soon took another twist. Acosta crashed out at Turn 1 while running second, handing Bezzecchi the opportunity to begin his charge. The Italian steadily reeled in Fernández and set blistering lap times to close the gap to Aldeguer. With eight laps remaining, the deficit dropped below two seconds. Bezzecchi, who had fallen to eighth at the start, began posting record times for the Sprint, including a 1:29.638 lap, and slashed the margin to less than half a second with two laps to go.
15 OVERTAKES IN 4 LAPS 😵💫
@PeccoBagnaia goes head-to-head with championship contender Jorge Martin and WINS the #MalaysianGP, keeping the title fight alive 🏆@DucatiCorse // #TheRematch pic.twitter.com/iRDXc4zCZk— Monster Energy (@MonsterEnergy) November 5, 2024
On the final lap, Bezzecchi went all-in. Diving inside at Turn 10, he executed a decisive move on Aldeguer, running slightly wide on exit but holding his line to secure the lead. Aldeguer tried to respond but could not retake the position. Bezzecchi crossed the finish line first, sealing a dramatic and hard-fought victory at Mandalika. Fernández claimed third and celebrated his maiden MotoGP podium.
Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) finished fourth, extending his advantage in the fight for second in the championship. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) completed the top five, while Luca Marini — originally sixth — was demoted out of the points after receiving an eight-second penalty for tire pressure irregularities. The penalty promoted Marc Márquez to sixth after he recovered from his earlier setback. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 pair, Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio, claimed seventh and eighth, respectively, with Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) taking ninth.
It was a day to forget for Francesco Bagnaia, winner of the previous round, who finished 14th and 29 seconds off the lead. Despite his struggles, Ducati Lenovo Team secured the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, underlining a season of technical dominance.
With the victory, Bezzecchi narrows the gap to the top three in the championship and heads into Sunday’s main race full of confidence, aiming to repeat his success at the Indonesian Grand Prix.