Alex Marquez Praised Mandalika Circuit, While Marc Marquez Highlighted Safety Concerns Ahead of MotoGP Indonesia

Sirkuit Mandalika in Lombok Tengah, Nusa Tenggara Barat, drew immediate praise from riders for cleaner track conditions during practice sessions, yet safety concerns resurfaced following crashes and lingering tire grip challenges during the 2026 MotoGP weekend, regional.kompas.com reported. While lap times dropped significantly compared to the previous season, incidents involving a major race-day injury for Fermin Aldeguer placed the spotlight firmly back on circuit safety and runoff areas.

Track Cleanliness and Slower Lap Times Give Way to Immediate Speed

Praveen BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP rider Alex Marquez noted that the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit felt notably cleaner right from the opening sessions than it did during the 2025 Grand Prix. According to regional.kompas.com, lap times dropped immediately during Free Practice 1 (FP1). Riders struggled to break into the 1-minute 32-second bracket the previous year, but managed 1-minute 31-second laps from their very first runs.

ANTARA News Sultra reported that Alex Marquez recorded a lap time of 1 minute 29,558 seconds during the afternoon practice session. That performance secured him an eighth-place finish in the top ten, earning him a direct berth into the second qualifying session (Q2). Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing topped the morning timesheets with a lap of 1 minute 30,132 seconds, outpacing Marquez by 0.720 seconds.

Tire Grip Variations and Manufacturer Performance Across Sectors

Despite the cleaner asphalt, Alex Marquez pointed out that the tire grip characteristics at Mandalika remained tricky to manage. As reported by regional.kompas.com, he described the traction as extremely binary—either fully present or completely absent—warning that once a tire begins to slip, the machine instantly loses lateral stability. Specialized casing tires provided solid grip at apexes, but the transition zones proved far more difficult for riders to predict.

Analyzing machine performance across different sections of the track, Alex Marquez observed that Aprilia maintained greater consistency and speed through Sectors 2 and 3. Meanwhile, Ducati held the advantage in Sectors 1 and 4, though factory engineers still needed to address mid-lap performance in Sector 2. Amid these technical variables, Alex Marquez also focused on managing his physical condition, telling ANTARA News Sultra that he consciously conserved energy to protect a leg injury sustained following a crash at the Catalunya Grand Prix in May.

Gravel Trap Concerns and Rider Crashes at Mandalika

The safety debate intensified further during Sunday’s main race. Harian Disway reported that Gresini Racing rider Fermin Aldeguer suffered a heavy crash at Turn 16 on the opening lap while fighting for fourth position. Initial trackside checks by MotoGP Medical Director Dr. Angel Charte revealed a fracture at the base of the first metacarpal bone in Aldeguer’s right hand.