Indonesian MotoGP: Martin wins 4th consecutive sprint, snatches title lead from Bagnaia

Jorge Martin continued his incredible form in the 2023 MotoGP season, winning his fourth sprint on the trot at the Mandalika circuit today. The Pramac Ducati rider started from P6 following a crash in the qualifying but on a superb display as he snatched the championship lead from factory Ducati rider and reigning champion Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia.
Mooney VR46’s Luca Marini, who started on pole position, finished in second as his teammate Marco Bezzecchi completed the all-Ducati podium. It was a significant double-podium finish for the outfit as both riders are coming fresh collarbone surgeries with Bezzecchi being declared fit to race only Friday morning.
As the lights went out in Lombok, Marini took advantage of the front row start, holding onto the pole position as they approached Turn 1. Behind him, Maverick Vinales on the Aprilia and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo followed closely.However, at Turn 2, Vinales made a swift move on Marini, eventually distancing himself from the pursuing group.

The first lap crash involving Marquez pushed Bagnaia up to 11th place by the end of the lap. By the third lap, Vinales had established a lead of seven tenths, which expanded to nearly a second on the subsequent lap. Bagnaia, who started on P13 after failing to make it to Q2, made steady progress, advancing to eighth place by the fourth lap. Aleix Espargaro, who had a brilliant weekend until the sprint race, took out KTM’s Brad Binder on lap two as he slid off the tarmac on Turn 16.
By lap 9, Martin had already taken the lead with Marini hot on his heels followed by Vinales. However, the Aprilia rider wasn’t able to hold onto his podium position as he was overtaken by Bezzecchi at Turn 10 on the final lap. Vinales saw the chequered flag at fourth ahead of Quartararo and Giannatonio, who will be making way for Marc Marquez’s arrival at Pramac next year. The factory Ducati boys, Enea Bastianini and Pecco finished in P7 and P8, respectively. Jack Miller clinched the last available point for KTM.
Martin’s Chances of Winning the MotoGP Title
Martin took the championship lead for the first time in the 2023 MotoGP season. He has a 7-point lead over Bagnaia in the championship, and he is in good form. However, after Sunday’s Indonesian GP, there are five more races remaining, and there will be a lot of opportunities for Bagnaia to claim his lead back provided Martin gives him a chance to do so.