The MotoGP title fight head to Indonesia with just two points separating Jorge Martín and Marc Márquez, setting the stage for a crucial weekend at the Mandalika International Circuit.
Marco Bezzecchi initially set the pace in FP1, but it was Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raúl Fernández who stole the spotlight in the afternoon, topping Practice with a record-breaking lap.
With Aprilia showing impressive speed across both sessions and all three championship contenders securing direct passage to Q2, Friday provided an intriguing preview of the battle to come.
Bezzecchi Leads the Way in FP1
Bezzecchi made an immediate statement at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, topping the opening Free Practice session at Mandalika with a time of 1:30.132. The Aprilia Racing rider finished 0.237 seconds ahead of reigning champion Marc Márquez, while championship leader Martín completed the top three.
The session offered an early indication of Aprilia’s potential at a circuit where Bezzecchi had already enjoyed success, having claimed pole position and Sprint victory at Mandalika in 2025. Marc began the weekend strongly in second, while Martín ensured that the championship leaders occupied the top three positions.
Pedro Acosta continued the strong showing from the championship contenders by finishing fourth on his Red Bull KTM, 0.294 seconds off Bezzecchi’s benchmark. Fernández placed fifth, giving Aprilia three bikes inside the top five. Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio took sixth and seventh for Pertamina Enduro VR46, respectively, with Fabio Quartararo eighth for Yamaha. Fermín Aldeguer and Álex Márquez completed the top ten.
There were also two incidents during the morning session. Trackhouse Aprilia’s Ai Ogura and Gresini Ducati’s Aldeguer both crashed, although neither rider was injured. Aldeguer recovered to finish ninth, while Ogura ended FP1 down in 21st.
Fernández Sets the Pace in Practice
The afternoon session brought a change, as Fernández delivered a standout performance to establish a new all-time lap record at Mandalika.
The Trackhouse Aprilia rider set a 1:28.725, becoming the first rider of the session to break into the 1:28s. His time proved untouchable, leaving Bezzecchi 0.219 seconds behind in second. Martín completed an all-Aprilia top three, finishing 0.481 seconds off Fernández’s pace.
It was a significant result for Fernández, who arrived in Indonesia after winning the British Grand Prix. His performance also reinforced Aprilia’s strong start to the weekend, with the manufacturer securing all three top positions in Practice.
Acosta was the leading rider outside the Aprilia trio in fourth, ahead of Marc Márquez in fifth. Di Giannantonio took sixth, while Quartararo recovered from a crash to secure seventh and a direct place in Q2.
Álex Márquez finished eighth despite a late fall at Turn 16. Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia rounded out the top ten, securing the final direct Q2 positions.
A Crash-Heavy Afternoon
Practice was interrupted by a series of incidents as riders pushed to secure a place in the top ten.
Aldeguer crashed at the final corner during the first half of the session, while Quartararo suffered a fast fall at Turn 9. Both riders were able to return to the track. Enea Bastianini also crashed at Turn 9 and later suffered a second fall, making it a difficult afternoon for the KTM Tech3 rider.
Diogo Moreira’s session ended after a crash at Turn 11, leaving the Brazilian facing Q1. Álex Márquez fell at Turn 16 late in the session, while Álex Rins crashed at the final corner shortly afterwards.
Aldeguer’s afternoon became more complicated when his Ducati stopped in the gravel after his crash. Despite his morning top-ten finish, the Gresini rider ended Friday outside the qualifying cutoff.
Who Made Q2 at Mandalika
Fernández, Bezzecchi and Martín led the way, with all three Aprilia riders finishing inside the top three. Acosta and Marc Márquez also progressed directly to Q2, alongside Di Giannantonio, Quartararo, Álex Márquez, Morbidelli and Bagnaia.
Several notable names will instead have to fight through Q1. Rins and Jack Miller narrowly missed the cutoff, while Ogura finished 13th. For Aldeguer, the challenge is particularly important after winning last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix. His two crashes and subsequent technical problem leave him with work to do before Saturday.
The Title Fight Continues
With only two points separating the championship leaders after the Japanese Grand Prix, every session in Indonesia carries added significance. Márquez finished ahead of his title rival in FP1, but Practice saw Marc take fifth while the championship leader secured third.
Bezzecchi, meanwhile, remained firmly in the mix across both sessions, finishing first in the morning before taking second on the timesheets in the afternoon. With Fernández emerging as another serious contender for the weekend, Aprilia has several reasons for optimism heading into the weekend.
Fernández’s record-breaking lap was Friday’s headline, but the title contenders all secured direct passage to Q2. The next challenge will be converting that pace into qualifying positions, with the Sprint offering an early opportunity to influence an exceptionally tight championship battle.