Bezzecchi wins Indonesian Grand Prix as Martin retakes MotoGP lead from Marquez

Marco Bezzecchi of Italy won MotoGP's Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika International Circuit. Aprilia riders took all three podium places.

Raul Fernandez of Spain started from pole position and finished second. Jorge Martin of Spain finished third.

Bezzecchi and Fernandez started alongside each other on the grid. Bezzecchi took the lead from Fernandez on lap 19 and then pulled away. Conditions at the circuit were described as sweltering.

Ducati's Marc Marquez, the reigning seven-time world champion, finished sixth. Marquez won Saturday's sprint race. That result gave him the championship lead for the first time this season.

Martin, a former world champion, retook the lead on Sunday. The standings are now Martin 355 points, Marquez 353 and Bezzecchi 309. Five race weekends remain. The next round is in Australia in two weeks.

Details reported by individual outlets

According to Al Jazeera, the race was 27 laps long and Bezzecchi won by 4.26 seconds. Al Jazeera reported that the win was the 300th MotoGP victory for an Italian rider. It said Bezzecchi's previous race win came in May. It also reported that this was Fernandez's first pole position and that he has two previous race victories.

Al Jazeera reported that Martin started from the second row, alongside Marquez, and lost several positions at the start. It said Marquez ran fifth during the race without seriously threatening the leaders.

According to BBC Sport, Fernandez began to fade after initially looking comfortable at the front. BBC Sport reported that Martin won the world championship in 2024, that this is the 2026 season, and that the next round is at Phillip Island.

What is disputed

Fernandez and Bezzecchi clashed and crashed out of Saturday's sprint. Fernandez raced on Sunday with a finger injury from that crash, which affected his braking. Reports differ on its extent. Al Jazeera reported that he fractured two fingers and had to improvise his braking. BBC Sport reported that he fractured his index finger and braked with his middle finger for the whole race. The reports do not say who was responsible for the sprint clash, or whether stewards took any action.

What each side says

Al Jazeera quoted Bezzecchi as saying: "It's amazing, I'm very, very happy." He also said: "It was a nice battle with Raul and I think me and all my team deserve a result like this. They have been through tough times with me."

Al Jazeera quoted Martin as saying: "I did my best. At the start I lost a lot of positions but tried to be calm and was overtaking riders step by step." He added: "We are still in the fight and still in the lead."

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any comment from Marquez or Ducati. They also do not name the fourth- and fifth-place finishers.

Analysis

With five race weekends left, Martin and Marquez are separated by two points. The lead changed hands twice in one weekend, which suggests the title could remain open for several rounds. Bezzecchi, 46 points behind Martin, is further back but still within range if results shift. The all-Aprilia podium raises questions about the competitive balance between manufacturers, though a single race does not establish a trend. Fernandez's injury is another open question. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a confirmed medical assessment of his fitness for Australia, so his participation and form there cannot be assumed.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.