Indonesian MotoGP: Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by two points as Mandalika weekend begins
MotoGP arrives at Mandalika with Jorge Martin just two points ahead of Marc Marquez after the Spaniard's Motegi double. Here are the times in Malaysia and what to watch.
The MotoGP title race has never been closer this season. As practice began at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok on Friday 9 October, Aprilia's Jorge Martin led the championship on 333 points, just two ahead of Ducati's Marc Marquez. Marquez closed the gap by winning both the Sprint and the Grand Prix at Motegi last weekend. Mandalika is the first of six remaining rounds, and the calendar visits Sepang soon after.
Marquez's Motegi double
At the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday 4 October, Marquez passed Martin at Turn 9 on lap 11 and pulled clear to win by 1.363 seconds. Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium on another Aprilia. Enea Bastianini was fourth for KTM, just 0.078 seconds behind him, after setting a race lap record on the penultimate lap. Aprilia had four bikes in the top six, as Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura finished fifth and sixth. Ducati and Aprilia left Japan level on 469 points in the constructors' standings.
The top five in the riders' championship are now Martin (333), Marquez (331), Bezzecchi (284), Pedro Acosta (243) and Ogura (237). With 37 points available every weekend from the Sprint and the Grand Prix, the lead could change hands as early as Saturday.
What to know about Mandalika
The 4.301km seaside circuit has 17 corners, 11 of them right-handers. The Sprint is 13 laps and the Grand Prix is 27. Michelin is bringing the same compounds as in 2025, including rear tyres with a reinforced casing built for the heat and the demands on the right shoulder.
Recent history is mixed for the title contenders. In 2025, Bezzecchi won the Sprint from pole and set the outright lap record of 1m28.832s in qualifying. On Sunday he collided with Marquez, and Fermin Aldeguer took his first MotoGP win. Martin won the Grand Prix here in 2024.
There are other storylines too. Aleix Espargaro stands in for Joan Mir at Honda HRC. If Marquez starts on Sunday, it will be his 300th Grand Prix across all classes. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 team is running a special Indonesian livery featuring the Garuda.
Weekend schedule (Malaysia time)
Lombok uses Central Indonesia Time, which is the same as Malaysia time (UTC+8), so no conversion is needed:
- Friday 9 October: FP1 10.45am, Practice 3pm
- Saturday 10 October: FP2 10.10am, Qualifying 10.50am, Sprint 3pm
- Sunday 11 October: Warm-up 10.40am, Grand Prix 3pm
Moto3 races at 12pm and Moto2 at 1.15pm on Sunday. Friday's sessions were still running when this article was published.
The run-in, including Sepang
After Indonesia, the championship goes to Australia (25 October), Malaysia (1 November), Qatar (8 November), Portugal (22 November) and Valencia (29 November). That makes the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang the third of the six remaining rounds, with three more to follow, so the title could still be wide open when the riders arrive.
Key takeaways
- Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by two points, 333 to 331, going into Mandalika.
- Marquez won both the Sprint and the Grand Prix at Motegi on 3-4 October.
- The Sprint and the Grand Prix both start at 3pm Malaysia time, on Saturday and Sunday.
- Six rounds remain, including Sepang on 1 November.
FAQ
What time is the Indonesian MotoGP race in Malaysia? The Grand Prix starts at 3pm Malaysia time on Sunday 11 October. The Sprint is at 3pm on Saturday 10 October.
Who leads the 2026 MotoGP championship? Jorge Martin leads with 333 points, two ahead of Marc Marquez on 331.
When is the 2026 Malaysian MotoGP? The Sepang round is scheduled for 1 November. It is the third of the six rounds left after Motegi.
Sources: MCNews, Crash.net, GPOne