News Summary
- Raúl Fernández led an Aprilia 1-2-3 in Indonesian MotoGP Practice, setting a new Mandalika lap record of 1:28.725.
- Jorge Martín finished third, ahead of Marc Márquez in fifth, as the two championship contenders prepare for Saturday’s sprint.
- Diogo Moreira crashed again and finished 19th, missing direct qualification for Q2.
Aprilia dominated Friday’s decisive MotoGP Practice session at Mandalika, with Raúl Fernández setting a new circuit record of 1:28.725 to lead Marco Bezzecchi and championship leader Jorge Martín in an unprecedented 1-2-3 for the manufacturer.
Fernández finished 0.219s ahead of Bezzecchi, while Martín took third, 0.481s off the fastest time. Pedro Acosta placed KTM fourth, with Marc Márquez fifth, 0.701s behind Fernández and 0.220s slower than Martín, his closest rival in the 2026 championship.
The session confirmed Aprilia’s expected competitiveness at Mandalika, where the flowing layout was considered particularly suitable for the RS-GP. It also established the 10 riders advancing directly to Saturday’s Q2, while Diogo Moreira suffered another crash and missed the cut.
Fernández breaks Mandalika record as Aprilia dominates
The afternoon session began in hot conditions, with air temperatures around 29°C and the asphalt reaching 59°C. The start was delayed by approximately 35 minutes following an interruption during Moto2 practice.
Bezzecchi initially led with a 1:30.272, continuing the strong form that had taken him to the top of FP1 earlier in the day. Fernández soon emerged as his main challenger, becoming the first rider to break into the 1:29s before improving repeatedly on the Trackhouse Aprilia.
Fabio Di Giannantonio briefly moved ahead with a 1:29.488, but Fernández responded with a 1:29.341 despite running a used soft front tyre.
The decisive improvement came in the final 15 minutes. Fernández produced a 1:28.725 to establish a new all-time Mandalika lap record, while Bezzecchi and Martín completed the Aprilia sweep.
It was the first time Aprilia had occupied the top three positions in a MotoGP Practice session, providing an emphatic demonstration of its speed before qualifying.
Martín gains early advantage over Márquez in title fight
The result was particularly significant for the championship battle.
Martín arrived in Indonesia with 333 points, only two ahead of Márquez on 331, after the Ducati rider completed a perfect weekend at Motegi.
Mandalika was already expected to present a different challenge. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi had acknowledged that losing 10-12 points to Martín could be acceptable because of Aprilia’s anticipated advantage.
Friday’s results provided the first evidence of that competitive balance. Martín finished third, while Márquez took fifth, with Acosta separating the two Spaniards.
However, both championship contenders secured direct places in Q2, avoiding the additional pressure of Saturday’s opening qualifying session.
Márquez has also acknowledged that he wants to get as close as possible to the maximum 37 points available, despite his difficult history at Mandalika, where he has never completed a Sunday MotoGP Grand Prix.
Moreira crashes again and faces Q1
Diogo Moreira endured another difficult session with LCR Honda after crashing during FP1 earlier on Friday.
The Brazilian initially improved into the midfield during Practice and briefly climbed to 13th, but remained outside the top 10 required for direct qualification to Q2.
His attempt to improve in the closing minutes ended with another crash at Turn 11, leaving him unable to secure a faster lap.
Moreira finished 19th with a 1:30.401, 1.676s behind Fernández, and must now compete in Q1 for one of the two remaining places in Q2.
The result leaves the Brazilian with additional work before Saturday’s sprint, while Honda’s other riders also struggled to reach the front. Luca Marini finished 14th, Johann Zarco 18th and Aleix Espargaró 22nd on his return to competition.
Top 10 advance directly to Q2. Riders finishing 11th or lower must compete in Q1, with the two fastest progressing to Q2.
Crashes disrupt Friday’s decisive session
Several riders experienced difficulties during the hour-long session.
Fermín Aldeguer, winner of the 2025 Indonesian GP, crashed at the final corner and was forced to return to the pits for his spare motorcycle. Fabio Quartararo subsequently suffered a high-speed accident at Turn 9, although he recovered sufficiently to finish seventh and secure a direct Q2 place.
Moreira’s late crash was another setback for Honda, while Fernández remained comfortably ahead as the final qualifying simulations concluded.
Saturday’s qualifying will determine the grid for both the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, with Martín and Márquez starting the decisive phase of the weekend separated by only two championship points.
The complete Indonesian MotoGP schedule, including qualifying and broadcast information is available in GRANDE PRÊMIO‘s weekend guide. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides full coverage of the MotoGP championship.
Indonesian MotoGP 2026 — complete Practice results
| Pos. | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. FERNÁNDEZ | Trackhouse Aprilia | 1:28.725 | — |
| 2 | M. BEZZECCHI | Aprilia | 1:28.944 | +0.219 |
| 3 | J. MARTÍN | Aprilia | 1:29.206 | +0.481 |
| 4 | P. ACOSTA | KTM | 1:29.394 | +0.669 |
| 5 | M. MÁRQUEZ | Ducati | 1:29.426 | +0.701 |
| 6 | F. DI GIANNANTONIO | VR46 Ducati | 1:29.430 | +0.705 |
| 7 | F. QUARTARARO | Yamaha | 1:29.558 | +0.833 |
| 8 | Á. MÁRQUEZ | Gresini Ducati | 1:29.572 | +0.847 |
| 9 | F. MORBIDELLI | VR46 Ducati | 1:29.693 | +0.968 |
| 10 | F. BAGNAIA | Ducati | 1:29.786 | +1.061 |
| 11 | Á. RINS | Yamaha | 1:29.876 | +1.151 |
| 12 | J. MILLER | Pramac Yamaha | 1:29.883 | +1.158 |
| 13 | A. OGURA | Trackhouse Aprilia | 1:29.954 | +1.229 |
| 14 | L. MARINI | Honda | 1:30.037 | +1.312 |
| 15 | F. ALDEGUER | Gresini Ducati | 1:30.151 | +1.426 |
| 16 | T. RAZGATLIOGLU | Pramac Yamaha | 1:30.152 | +1.427 |
| 17 | B. BINDER | KTM | 1:30.247 | +1.522 |
| 18 | J. ZARCO | LCR Honda | 1:30.314 | +1.589 |
| 19 | D. MOREIRA | LCR Honda | 1:30.401 | +1.676 |
| 20 | M. VIÑALES | Tech3 KTM | 1:30.666 | +1.941 |
| 21 | E. BASTIANINI | Tech3 KTM | 1:30.668 | +1.943 |
| 22 | A. ESPARGARÓ | Honda | 1:31.355 | +2.630 |
MotoGP today: FAQ
Who was fastest in Indonesian MotoGP Practice at Mandalika?
Raúl Fernández topped Friday’s Practice with a new Mandalika lap record of 1:28.725, leading an Aprilia 1-2-3 ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. Marc Márquez finished fifth, 0.220s behind championship rival Martín. All four qualified directly for Q2.
Can Marc Márquez take the MotoGP championship lead in Saturday’s sprint?
Yes. Márquez trails Jorge Martín by just two points, 331 to 333. The Ducati rider can move ahead by scoring at least three more points than Martín during Saturday’s sprint. A Márquez victory would guarantee the championship lead regardless of Martín’s result.
What time is Indonesian MotoGP qualifying and the sprint on Saturday?
Qualifying begins at 10:50 local time on Saturday, October 10, equivalent to 03:50 BST in the UK and 22:50 EDT on Friday in the United States and Canada. The sprint starts at 15:00 local time, equivalent to 08:00 BST and 03:00 EDT on Saturday.
Who was fastest in Indonesian MotoGP Practice?
Raúl Fernández was fastest with a 1:28.725, setting a new Mandalika lap record ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín in an Aprilia 1-2-3.
