MotoGP heads to Mandalika with Martin just two points ahead of Marquez after Motegi double
Marc Marquez's Motegi sweep cut Jorge Martin's lead to two points. The Indonesian GP at Mandalika runs 9-11 October, with races at 3pm Malaysia time.
MotoGP's title fight arrives in South-East Asia this week with almost nothing separating the top two. Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by just two points heading to the Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika circuit on Lombok, which runs from 9 to 11 October.
Lombok uses Central Indonesia Time, the same as Malaysia, so both Saturday's Sprint and Sunday's Grand Prix start at 3pm Malaysia time.
Marquez sweeps Motegi to close the gap
The gap shrank dramatically at the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend. Marquez won Saturday's Sprint and Sunday's main race at Motegi, collecting the maximum 37 points. Martin finished second in both, and while those were solid results, they still cost him 10 points to his rival over the weekend.
On Sunday Marquez crossed the line 1.363 seconds ahead of Martin, with Marco Bezzecchi third. Before Motegi, Martin had a 12-point cushion. He now leads by two.
There was disappointment for Diogo Moreira, who crashed out on Sunday a day after his first Sprint podium. Alex Marquez also failed to finish the Grand Prix.
Championship standings after 16 of 22 rounds
- Jorge Martin (Aprilia) - 333 points
- Marc Marquez (Ducati) - 331
- Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) - 284
- Pedro Acosta (KTM) - 243
- Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) - 237
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) - 230
Bezzecchi is 49 points behind and at risk of dropping out of the fight. Behind him, there is little to choose between Acosta, Ogura and Di Giannantonio in the race for fourth.
Mandalika weekend schedule (Malaysia time)
- Friday 9 October: Practice 1 from 10.45am
- Saturday 10 October: Qualifying, then the Sprint at 3pm
- Sunday 11 October: Grand Prix at 3pm
With 37 points again on offer to any rider who wins both races, the lead could change hands more than once over the weekend.
Run-in includes Sepang
Indonesia is the first of six remaining rounds. After Mandalika, the paddock travels to Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix on 23 to 25 October, then comes to Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix from 30 October to 1 November.
That timing means the title fight could still be very much alive when the riders reach Malaysia. Qatar (6 to 8 November), Portugal (20 to 22 November) and the Valencia finale (27 to 29 November) complete the season.
Manufacturer rivalry adds another layer. Martin and Bezzecchi carry Aprilia's hopes against Marquez and the Ducati camp, and the two brands are also locked together at the top of the constructors' table after Motegi.
Key takeaways
- Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by two points, 333 to 331, after 16 of 22 rounds.
- Marquez won both the Sprint and the Grand Prix at Motegi to cut a 12-point gap to two.
- The Indonesian Grand Prix runs 9 to 11 October, with both races at 3pm Malaysia time.
- The Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang follows on 30 October to 1 November.
FAQ What time is the MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix in Malaysia? The Sprint is at 3pm on Saturday 10 October and the main race is at 3pm on Sunday 11 October. Lombok and Malaysia share the same time zone. Who leads the 2026 MotoGP championship? Jorge Martin leads on 333 points, two ahead of Marc Marquez on 331, with Marco Bezzecchi third on 284. When is the 2026 Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang? The Malaysian Grand Prix is scheduled for 30 October to 1 November, two rounds after Indonesia.
Sources: Crash.net, Grande Premio, MotoGP.com