Marc Márquez won Saturday’s Indonesian Grand Prix Sprint after a race that saw three Aprilia contenders lose their chances of victory.
Martín led most of the contest but finished fourth, while polesitter Fernández and Bezzecchi were eliminated within seconds of the start.
First-corner crash eliminates Fernández and Bezzecchi
Four riders converged on Turn 1, with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Márquez taking the inside lines alongside Bezzecchi and Fernández. As the group ran wide, Bezzecchi fell and collected Fernández, ending both riders’ races.
Martín avoided the incident and emerged in front, with Márquez following. Di Giannantonio lost ground through the corner despite initially holding the inside position.
Martín builds a gap before handing over the lead
Martín set the fastest lap on lap four and extended his advantage to around 1.4 seconds. But on lap nine, he slowed and allowed Márquez through.
Motorsport’s report identified a tyre-pressure warning as the likely explanation for the move. Martín then settled behind the Ducati and began closing again, keeping himself in contention for a late attack.
Turn 15 mistake costs Martín a podium
The Aprilia rider’s recovery unravelled when he had to save a moment at Turn 15 and ran off the circuit. Ogura and Di Giannantonio moved ahead, dropping Martín to fourth.
The mistake left Márquez leading with two different pursuers, while Martín’s opportunity to reclaim victory had gone.
Ogura closes, but Márquez holds on
Ogura halved the gap on the final lap but could not get close enough to attack. Márquez secured his first Mandalika Sprint win, ahead of the Trackhouse rider and Di Giannantonio.
The result moved Márquez four points clear of Martín at the top of the championship. Ogura also closed to within one point of Pedro Acosta in the fight for fourth overall.
Acosta penalised as Álex Márquez finishes fifth
Álex Márquez took fifth, followed by Acosta, whose pursuit of the podium was interrupted by a long-lap penalty for track limits.
Fermín Aldeguer finished seventh, Francesco Bagnaia eighth and Fabio Quartararo ninth, taking the final Sprint point.
