Francesco Bagnaia delivered an awe-inspiring performance at the Mandalika International Circuit, securing his sixth Grand Prix victory of the year and regaining the top position in the championship table. The Indonesian Grand Prix, a thrilling 27-lap race, showcased Bagnaia’s exceptional skills and determination.

A Remarkable Comeback
Starting from the 13th position on the grid (row 5), Bagnaia made a promising start, swiftly moving up to sixth place by the end of the opening lap. By the third lap, he had advanced to third place, trailing the leading duo of Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia). The race took a pivotal turn when the points leader, Martin, crashed out on the 13th lap. Bagnaia, however, needed six more laps to overtake his Aprilia rival.

In the final third of the race, Bagnaia faced the challenge of rapidly deteriorating tires. With sheer determination, he fended off both Viñales and a determined Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) who was charging hard. Bagnaia’s victory was secured with a narrow margin of 0.3 seconds at the chequered flag, marking his first win since the Austrian Grand Prix in August.

After relinquishing the championship lead to Martin in yesterday’s Sprint, Bagnaia made a spectacular comeback to claim the top spot in the points table, boasting an impressive 18-point lead as the championship heads into its final stretch.

Enea Bastianini’s Impressive Performance
Teammate Enea Bastianini, too, had a remarkable run, showcasing his potential with an eighth-place finish. Despite starting from the 11th position on the grid, Bastianini faced an early setback, slipping to the last place on the opening lap due to a minor contact with Marquez (Honda), which forced him wide in a corner. Additionally, he served a long lap penalty for a previous infringement.

However, Bastianini gradually made his way through the field, displaying excellent speed and determination. He achieved the fastest lap of the race, clocking an impressive 1’30.906 on the 18th lap, making him the sole rider to break the 1’31 mark. Bastianini crossed the finish line in eighth place, showcasing his resilience and skill on his return from injury.

In summary, Francesco Bagnaia’s stunning victory in the Indonesian Grand Prix and his return to the top of the championship standings are a testament to his remarkable talent and determination. Teammate Enea Bastianini’s impressive run adds another layer of excitement to the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team’s performance.

For more updates and insights, stay tuned to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.

Race Sum Up

1. Francesco Bagnaia delivered a spectacular performance, securing his sixth GP victory of the year and regaining the top position in the championship table.
2. Bagnaia had to contend with rapidly deteriorating tires in the final third of the race while fending off determined competitors.
3. Bagnaia now holds an impressive 18-point lead in the championship standings.
4. Enea Bastianini showcased his skill and resilience, finishing in eighth place and setting the fastest lap of the race.
5. The team’s performance promises excitement as the championship heads into its final stretch. Stay tuned for updates.

Francesco Bagnaia (#1 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st
“Incredible! I’m very happy, this win was so important. I was struggling at the weekend, my team again have done such an incredible job, I was trying to adapt, and they gave to me the maximum. This morning in the warm-up I was very happy with what they did, and, in the race, we won again… finally, because it was a long time without a win after the crash in Barcelona. I’m very proud of my team and my crew. I was controlling because I could see that Martin was pushing hard, but I said to myself to wait and see because it was a very long race. I was taking care about the tyres then when I saw the laps to go, I just tried to push again to put me in the front. Winning here and today and starting from P13 is very good. Now I’m ready to fight all the way to the end like always.”

Enea Bastianini (#23 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 8th
“It wasn’t exactly a very lucky race for me because at the start in turn 11 after a contact with Marc I had to go wide and slipped down to last place. I also had to do the long lap penalty and it was so difficult for me to recover positions. But after that I did a good pace and set the fastest lap of the race, so I can say that I am very happy with the feeling on the bike and the work done but not with the result. Now we have the right feeling again; also, in Barcelona we made a good step and for the race I was ready to push, but here we have confirmed this. I was fast all the weekend, today I was faster in the race, and I think that now we have a good pace to go well in the next races.”

Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“I’d say that Pecco really reacted like a champion today, it wasn’t easy after yesterday’s defeat. He did a splendid and intelligent race, it’s difficult to say anything more than that. The rear tyre certainly made an important difference, and from the point of view of the overall setup of the electronics and the setup of the bike we made some other evolutions, but he certainly truly did a masterpiece of a race. Let’s say that the last few races will be a bit of a fratricidal war for us, but it will certainly be nice to see these guys fight until the end.”