MotoGP Mandalika: Martin and Marquez two points apart in title fight
The newsroomUpdated on October 7, 20263 minAhead of the Indonesian GP (9-11 October), Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by just two points, and Marquez has never finished a Grand Prix at Mandalika.
Key point
Martin leads Marquez by just two points going into Mandalika, where the Ducati rider has never yet finished a MotoGP Grand Prix.
Jorge Martin (Aprilia) leads Marc Marquez (Ducati) by just two points going into the Indonesian MotoGP Grand Prix, round 17 of the championship, at Mandalika from 9 to 11 October 2026. After a Sprint and Grand Prix double at Motegi, Marquez took back ten points: Martin arrived in Japan with a twelve-point lead.
A title that can swing without a win
Seven rounds remain, and this will be the last title awarded with these bikes before the switch to 850 cc. For Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola, the key will be the absence of errors rather than pure speed: a crash, a missed qualifying or a zero can now weigh more than several second places. Two points behind Martin, Marquez no longer even needs to win to take the lead. Rivola also refuses to write off Marco Bezzecchi, although Pedro Acosta and he risk losing touch with the top two.
Mandalika, Marquez's blind spot
Marquez has never seen the chequered flag in an Indonesian Grand Prix:
- 2022: ruled out after a big warm-up crash, with concussion
- 2023: crashed out of both races
- 2024: third in the Sprint, then an engine failure in the Grand Prix
- 2025: ninth in qualifying, sixth in the Sprint, then hit by Bezzecchi on the opening lap, with shoulder injuries
He therefore scored no Sunday points in the four previous editions. He wants to reverse that trend, while admitting that on paper this is not his best track.
Aprilia hopes to hit back
Rivola considers Indonesia more favourable to Aprilia than to Ducati on paper, although he points out that some tracks supposed to suit the RS-GP have not produced the expected results. In the constructors' standings, Ducati and Aprilia are level on 469 points. Ducati has won eight Grands Prix to Aprilia's seven, and has taken the constructors' title every year since 2020. In the teams' standings, the factory Aprilia team is 122 points ahead of the factory Ducati team.
The schedule
- Friday 9 October: two free practice sessions
- Saturday 10 October: practice, qualifying and Sprint
- Sunday 11 October: warm-up and Grand Prix
The editorial team
Frequently asked questions
How big is the gap between Martin and Marquez in the MotoGP standings?
Jorge Martin (Aprilia) leads Marc Marquez (Ducati) by two points after the Japanese Grand Prix, with seven rounds to go.
When is the 2026 Indonesian GP?
From 9 to 11 October 2026 at Mandalika, round 17 of the championship: Sprint on Saturday 10 October, Grand Prix on Sunday 11 October.
Has Marc Marquez ever finished a Grand Prix at Mandalika?
No. He has never reached the finish of a MotoGP Grand Prix there and scored no Sunday points in the four previous editions.
Sources
- Paddock GP — Martin and Marquez, Rivola knows what will decide the title
- Crash.net — Marquez out to reverse his Mandalika record
- FormulaPassion — Martin vs Marquez, Aprilia and Ducati level in the constructors' standings
- Crash.net — 2026 Indonesian MotoGP start times
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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