Bagnaia and Martin Set for Mandalika Showdown

The MotoGP™ circus is moving from Misano to Lombok for the Indonesian Grand Prix, with the championship battle finely poised. Jorge Martin now holds a 24-point lead over reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, setting the stage for an exciting showdown at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit.

Last year's Indonesian GP proved pivotal for both riders. Martin briefly claimed the points lead on Saturday before crashing out on Sunday, while Bagnaia made a historic charge from 13th on the grid to take the win. With the championship at stake, both riders will be keen to make their mark once again on Indonesian soil.

Fresh off his controversial victory at Misano, Enea Bastianini will be looking to maintain his momentum. The 'Beast' has shown that a strong qualifying performance often translates to Sunday success, and he'll be aiming to improve on his less extensive experience at Mandalika.

Marc Marquez continues to impress on the Ducati, securing another podium at Misano. However, he'll be seeking a more pure pace this weekend as he adapts to the Indonesian circuit on his new machine.

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The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team duo of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi will be under the spotlight as they race on their title sponsor's home turf. Di Giannantonio will be hoping for a drama-free weekend after facing multiple challenges at Misano, while Bezzecchi aims to build on his recent strong performances.

Maverick Viñales and Aprilia will be looking to replicate their podium success from last season, with Viñales having finished second at Mandalika in 2023. Meanwhile, Miguel Oliveira, who claimed the first-ever MotoGP™ victory at the venue in 2022, will be hoping his previous success translates to a strong showing on the Aprilia.

Fabio Quartararo enters the weekend with a perfect podium record at Mandalika and will be eager to capitalize on Yamaha's recent improvements. The French rider has never finished lower than third at this circuit and took his most recent pole position here in 2022.

As the championship battle intensifies and riders adapt to Mandalika's unique challenges, fans can expect another thrilling weekend of MotoGP™ action in Indonesia.