Two points in it. The closest-ever gap between the top two in the MotoGP World Champion after 16 Grands Prix. It’s safe to say the title battle between Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) waiting to pounce too, is set up very nicely as the fascinating 2026 title race rolls into the glorious setting of Lombok and the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia.
TO ME, TO YOU: MM93 vs JM89 LANDS IN LOMBOK
After Austria, the momentum was back in Martin and Aprilia’s court as they landed in Japan with a 12-point cushion to reigning World Champion Marc Marquez. Now, it’s just two. All the talk surrounding Marc Marquez and Ducati was how crucial a maximum points haul would be before a trip to his bogey circuit would be.
And as he has done 78 times before Sunday at Motegi in MotoGP, the #93 delivered. Backing up his Tissot Sprint success, Japan’s 37 points haul was massive for Marquez and Ducati. They know Mandalika isn’t favourable to them this season given Aprilia’s rise. The stats, in Marc Marquez’s case anyway, don’t lie. He’s yet to see a Sunday chequered flag in Indonesia, and on two occasions has left Lombok with injuries – including last year when the World Champion and Bezzecchi collided.
The effects of that day remain today. And that’s why this weekend the onus is thrown over to Aprilia and Martin. The title race leader won here on a Ducati in 2024 and finished P2 the year before that. It’s a circuit he likes. However, the #89 didn’t race here last year after fracturing his right collarbone in Japan, so that’s a factor that may hinder the 2024 champion.
Pre-weekend, the odds certainly favour Martin in Indonesia. But this MotoGP. And this is Marc Marquez. Is this the year the #93 banishes his Lombok demons, or will Martin extend his lead at the MotoGP summit?
DON’T RULE OUT BEZ
That remains to be seen. But having picked up four podiums – all of them P3s – in the last five Sundays and coming to a track he was fiercely quick at last season, don’t scribble out Bezzecchi from this championship picture just yet. Yes, more points were conceded to the top two by Bez in Japan, but the deficit to teammate Martin is still under 50. Just. 49 points to be exact. However, as we’ve seen already this season, that can change. A big weekend awaits last year’s Indonesian GP polesitter and Sprint winner.
THE CONTENDERS
It may not have been an injury-hit sophomore year to remember so far, but the first rider to mention is last year’s dominant winner Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). A back-to-back Mandalika win feels unlikely, but never say never in this game.
The two podium finishers to Aldeguer last year? Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). Both Spaniards left Motegi craving more after Acosta’s lack of pace on Sunday, and Alex Marquez’s double Long Lap to DNF. Expect both MotoGP winners to be right up at the sharp end this weekend.
Who else? Well, after Japan, it would be rude not to throw Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) into the mix. That was some serious late race rhythm from ‘The Beast’, so can the Italian extract similar this weekend?
And then there’s the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP duo of Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura. There was a sense of disappointment from the latter after the Japanese star after his P6 on home turf, with his, Fernandez and Acosta’s Motegi scrap and enjoyable, but frustrating one for those involved.
PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 SEARCH FOR MORE
As the title sponsor suggests, an important weekend arrives for Pertamina Enduro VR46 duo Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli. ‘Diggia’ hasn't collected a Sunday top five since his P4 at the Dutch GP, which has seen the Italian slip to P6 in the standings. Having ridden through the pain barrier in Japan’s Sunday outing after being taken out by Alex Marquez on the Saturday, Di Giannantonio will be hoping to be fighting fitter in Indonesia as he hunts a rostrum return.
PROMISING SIGNS
Diogo Moreira’s (Pro Honda LCR) weekend in Japan unfortunately ended in the gravel, but a debut Sprint medal was clinched 23 hours prior to indicate the rookie’s growing potential. And what a place - HRC’s backyard - to collect a maiden Saturday silver at too. Can the Brazilian fight at the front again in Indonesia? He's won there in Moto3 and in Moto2.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) extracted everything and a little more from the Yamaha in Japan, and after a P7 finish here last season - plus teammate Alex Rins enjoying a stint in second place in the 2025 Grand Prix - maybe it's a weekend we see Quartararo and Rins further up the order.
SEARCHING FOR MORE
2023 Lombok winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) continues his search for an upturn in fortunes after another lowkey weekend in Japan that unearthed a Sunday P8. It's no podium in seven Grands Prix for the double MotoGP champion.
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) won't want to be beaten by Moreira too many more times this season, can the experience Frenchman get himself in the mix to better his best of P7 so far this campaign? And Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be on the prowl for a top 10 return at a venue he was P4 at last season.
Luca Marini’s (Honda HRC Castrol) P5 in Indonesia was his equal-best result of the season last year, so don't rule out the Italian from clawing himself into that sort of territory again this time around either. Marini’s P10 in Japan means he continues his impressive 100% Sunday points streak in 2026.
WELCOME BACK ALEIX
And with Marini’s teammate Joan Mir still sidelined through illness, and Somkiat Chantra back on WorldSBK duty in Portugal, it's a very warm welcome back to the saddle for Aleix Espargaro this weekend.
MORE TO COME
Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) came through his comeback weekend unscathed in Japan, so there's more to come from Top Gun in Mandalika, and both Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP riders - Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu - will continue to try and grind out points paying results for the Italian squad. In the Turk’s case, it's a return to a venue he enjoyed success at in WorldSBK - he was a triple winner here in 2022, and the #07 lifted his first title in Indonesia in 2021.
Strap in as we go straight back at it in Lombok, with two points already history made and Indonesia ready to make some more.
