Marco Bezzecchi’s impressive run on the Mandalika timesheets came to an end during the morning warm-up session for the Indonesian MotoGP. After dominating from Friday afternoon through to his victory in the Sprint, Bezzecchi faced a competitive field for the final preparations.
Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo topped the warm-up session with a lap time of 1m 30.345s. However, reigning world champion Marc Marquez made headlines by setting a quicker time of 1m 30.239s, although this lap was ultimately invalidated due to track limit infractions. Quartararo opted to use a soft rear tire while becoming the sole rider on a hard front during the warm-up, which could play a crucial role in the race strategy.
Marquez, who had a tough Sprint, finishing seventh after serving a long lap penalty, switched to a medium rear tire for the warm-up alongside the majority of the grid. He noted conditions were windy at turns 7-8 but felt positive about the track’s continuous improvement. “It will not be an easy day for us,” he warned, indicating the competitive nature of the event.
As various riders explored their tire choices, Quartararo and peers like Fabio di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli, and Miguel Oliveira remained committed to the soft rear, showcasing a strategy that could potentially pay off during the Grand Prix. In contrast, Pramac’s Jack Miller managed a strong session, just 0.299s slower than Quartararo on a new medium tire, hinting at progress for the M1 bike.
Bezzecchi, utilizing a medium rear tire paired with an older soft front, finished just ahead of Miller. He expressed a good feeling heading into the race, especially noted the notably hotter conditions compared to previous days.
Among the top competitors were Alex Marquez, Sprint runner-up Fermin Aldeguer, Raul Fernandez, and Luca Marini—all utilizing varying tire combinations. Even with mixed results in the warm-up, the anticipation for the Indonesian MotoGP remains high as riders finalize their strategies ahead of the race scheduled to start at 3 PM local time.
The diversity of tire strategies observed suggests an exhilarating race ahead, with teams and riders adapting to unpredictable conditions and relentlessly pursuing performance on the track. This competitive edge promises an exciting showdown for MotoGP fans.