MotoGP Indonesia GP: Jorge Martin Leads Marc Marquez by Just Two Points Heading to Mandalika

Lombok, Indonesia, October 8, 2026: The 2026 MotoGP World Championship heads to the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit for the Indonesian Grand Prix this weekend, with Jorge Martin holding a slender two-point advantage over Marc Marquez at the top of the standings.

Martin leads Marquez 333-331 after 16 Grands Prix, marking the closest championship battle between the top two at this stage of a MotoGP season. The previous smallest gap was eight points between Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden in 2006.

The Indonesian Grand Prix will be the fifth MotoGP race held at Mandalika. MotoGP first raced in Indonesia at Sentul in 1996 and 1997 before returning to the country in 2022 at the newly built Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, which opened in November 2021.

Ducati Holds the Upper Hand at Mandalika

Ducati has dominated the MotoGP races at Mandalika in recent seasons. After KTM’s Miguel Oliveira won the inaugural Indonesian Grand Prix in 2022, Ducati riders have taken the last three Sunday races.

Francesco Bagnaia won in 2023 after producing a remarkable recovery from 13th on the grid. Jorge Martin followed with victory from pole position in 2024, while Fermin Aldeguer claimed his maiden MotoGP Grand Prix victory at the circuit in 2025.

Ducati also has two Sprint victories at Mandalika, while Aprilia has one. Marco Bezzecchi secured Aprilia’s first pole position and Sprint victory at the circuit in 2025.

KTM’s Pedro Acosta has finished runner-up in the Indonesian GP in both 2024 and 2025, while Fabio Quartararo has two podiums for Yamaha at Mandalika, finishing second in 2022 and third in 2023.

Aprilia’s best Grand Prix result at the circuit is Maverick Viñales’ second place in 2023, while Honda’s best is Luca Marini’s fifth-place finish in 2025.

Marc Marquez Faces a Mandalika Hoodoo

Despite his incredible MotoGP record, Mandalika remains one of the few circuits where Marc Marquez has yet to score points in the Sunday Grand Prix.

The Ducati Lenovo Team rider has visited the Indonesian circuit four times without scoring a single Sunday point. He finished third in the Sprint in 2024, but retired from that year’s Grand Prix with a technical problem. In 2025, Marquez finished sixth in the Sprint before crashing out on the opening lap of the Grand Prix after contact with Marco Bezzecchi.

A victory this weekend would therefore be significant on several levels. It would give Marquez his first MotoGP Grand Prix win at Mandalika and his 23rd different winning circuit in the premier class, moving him level with Valentino Rossi. Only Mick Doohan, with wins at 24 different circuits, would remain ahead of him.

Jorge Martin Returns to a Circuit Where He Has Won

Martin has already tasted victory at Mandalika, winning the 2024 Indonesian Grand Prix from pole position. He also won the first Sprint held at the circuit in 2023.

However, he missed the 2025 Indonesian GP after suffering a collarbone injury at Motegi the previous weekend.

With just two points separating Martin and Marquez, the championship leader arrives at Mandalika with the opportunity to extend his advantage at a circuit where he has already demonstrated strong pace.

Bezzecchi Looking for Another Mandalika Breakthrough

Marco Bezzecchi enters the weekend with strong memories of Mandalika. The Aprilia rider finished fifth in the 2023 and 2024 Grands Prix before taking pole position and Sprint victory in 2025 — both milestones were firsts for Aprilia at the circuit.

His 2025 Sunday race, however, ended on the opening lap following contact with Marc Marquez.

A victory on Sunday would also give Bezzecchi a unique record. His first 11 MotoGP Grand Prix wins would all have come at different circuits, a feat previously achieved only by MotoGP Hall of Famer Freddie Spencer.

Eight Riders Have Already Podiumed at Mandalika

Eight riders on the current MotoGP grid have previously stood on the Grand Prix podium at Mandalika. Pedro Acosta leads that group with two podiums, followed by Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo with two each. Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Jorge Martin, Maverick Viñales and Johann Zarco have also finished on the podium at the circuit.

Four current riders have taken MotoGP pole position at Mandalika: Bezzecchi, Luca Marini, Martin and Quartararo.

Milestone Weekend for Marquez, Bagnaia and Rins

The Indonesian GP is also set to be a landmark weekend for several riders.

Marc Marquez is scheduled to make his 300th Grand Prix start across all classes on Sunday. Francesco Bagnaia and Alex Rins are both scheduled to reach 250 Grand Prix starts, while Quartararo is set to make his 150th MotoGP Grand Prix appearance.

Bagnaia could also add another milestone to his impressive record. If he finishes on the podium on Sunday, he will equal MotoGP Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey’s tally of 64 premier-class podiums, moving into joint ninth on the all-time list.

2026 Could Produce a Record Number of MotoGP Winners

The 2026 season has already produced eight different MotoGP Grand Prix winners: Marco Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez, Jorge Martin, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez, Ai Ogura, Raul Fernandez and Pedro Acosta.

If a ninth different rider wins at Mandalika, the season would equal the record for the most different MotoGP Grand Prix winners in a single season, achieved in 2016 and 2020.

Three riders could also claim their maiden MotoGP Grand Prix victories in Indonesia: Luca Marini, rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu and rookie Diogo Moreira.

Honda, Yamaha and Aprilia riders are also chasing their first MotoGP Grand Prix victories at Mandalika.

Moto3 and Moto2 Titles Also in Focus

The Indonesian GP could also produce championship milestones in the support classes.

Maximo Quiles has a chance to clinch the Moto3 World Championship at Mandalika. He arrives with a 127-point advantage over David Almansa, 135 points over Alvaro Carpe and 139 points over Brian Uriarte. Quiles needs an advantage of at least 125 points at the end of the Grand Prix to secure the title.

In Moto2, Kalex can seal the Constructors’ World Championship. The German manufacturer holds a 116.5-point advantage over Boscoscuro, with 125 points still available after the Indonesian GP. Kalex needs to outscore its rival by at least 8.5 points to secure the championship.

With Martin and Marquez separated by just two points, Ducati and Aprilia level on Constructors’ points, and the possibility of a record-equalling ninth winner in 2026, the Indonesian Grand Prix promises another crucial chapter in an increasingly dramatic MotoGP season.