Friday’s action at the Indonesian Grand Prix sends a very clear message: at Mandalika, Aprilia is the bike to beat. The Noale-based manufacturer dominated the top three positions in Free Practice, with Raúl Fernández ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. This result confirms the competitiveness of the RS-GP on a circuit characterised by fast corners, changes of direction and long straights.
The biggest surprise came from Raúl Fernández. The Trackhouse rider took pole position, setting a new circuit record and proving that Aprilia’s potential is not limited to the factory team. Behind him, Bezzecchi confirmed his excellent rapport with Mandalika, whilst Martín finished third and sent out an important signal in the battle for the world title.
The World Championship is wide open. Martín arrives in Indonesia with just a two-point lead over Marc Márquez – a margin that is practically non-existent with several races still to go before the end of the championship. The Ducati rider finished fifth, behind Pedro Acosta’s KTM, making him the best-placed rider from the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer.
However, Márquez’s fifth-place finish should not be misleading. The Spaniard remains very much in contention for victory, even though Aprilia’s dominance suggests that Ducati will need to find something extra, particularly in terms of cornering speed. On a circuit like Mandalika, where smooth riding can make all the difference, the work carried out by the engineers overnight could prove decisive.
Pedro Acosta, in fourth place, is the main challenger to Aprilia. KTM has shown it can compete with Ducati and join the battle for the top positions, although race pace will be the real factor to assess.
Fabio Di Giannantonio also proved himself to be competitive with the sixth-fastest time, whilst Fabio Quartararo took the Yamaha to seventh place despite a crash. Next came Álex Márquez, Franco Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia, the tenth and final rider to secure direct entry to Q2.
Bagnaia himself is one of the unknowns of the weekend. The gap of over a second behind Fernández highlights the difficulties the Piedmontese rider has faced in setting a fast lap. Direct qualification at least avoids the risk of Q1, but a significant step up in pace will be needed if he is to challenge for the podium.
The situation is more complicated for Honda, with Luca Marini finishing only fourteenth, whilst Ai Ogura, in thirteenth place, is the only Aprilia rider forced to go through Q1. This result shows that, even with a competitive bike, the ability to capitalise on its potential in the decisive lap is still essential.
The figures confirm the Italian team’s dominance: Fernández clocked a time of 1’28.725, finishing 219 thousandths ahead of Bezzecchi and 481 thousandths ahead of Martín. Acosta was 669 thousandths behind, whilst Márquez trailed by 701. Bagnaia finished 1.061 seconds off the top. MCNews
The world championship standings add further interest to the contest: Martín leads with 333 points, Márquez follows on 331 and Bezzecchi occupies third place with 284. For the Italian Aprilia rider, Mandalika therefore also represents an opportunity to close the gap on his two title rivals. MCNews
Ahead of Saturday, Aprilia starts with a clear advantage in terms of single-lap pace, but qualifying and the Sprint race could tell a different story. Tyre management, high track temperatures and the ability to maintain a consistent pace will be crucial.
AiSportNews’s prediction sees Fernández and Bezzecchi among the main contenders for pole position, with Martín and Márquez set to battle it out for a result that could prove crucial in the world championship. Acosta could join the fight for the podium, whilst Ducati will have to prove it can make up the ground it has lost.
Mandalika has already shown who is the fastest, but it has yet to be decided who will be the strongest. And with just two points separating Martín and Márquez, every corner could prove decisive for the World Championship.
Fabio Averna – AiSportNews
Article produced by the AiSportNews editorial team with the support of artificial intelligence tools.
Written by Fabio Averna
Article produced by the AiSportNews newsroom with the support of artificial intelligence tools.