MotoGP News: Bezzecchi Dominates as Marquez and Bagnaia Face Q1 in Indonesia

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) set a blistering pace Friday at the Indonesian Grand Prix, topping Practice with a 1m29.240s lap, four tenths clear of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Meanwhile, newly crowned World Champion Marc Marquez crashed twice and missed the Q2 cut for the first time in 2025, joined by his Ducati Lenovo teammate Francesco Bagnaia in Q1 after an uncharacteristically off day for Ducati.

Early Struggles for Marquez

Marc Marquez endured a rough start, crashing at Turn 10 early in the session, dropping to P17 with half an hour gone. KTM, Aprilia, Honda, and Yamaha riders dominated the top five at that point. Marquez’s woes continued with a bigger crash at Turn 5, where he was thrown over the handlebars of his factory Ducati, marking his first two-crash session since the 2024 Indonesian GP. By this stage, he was languishing in P20.

The Fight for Q2

With 17 minutes left, Marquez returned to the track, aiming to preserve his perfect 2025 Friday top-10 record. Bagnaia, stuck in P18, also faced pressure after a strong showing in Japan days earlier. Marquez briefly climbed to P6, while Acosta and Bezzecchi traded fastest laps, with Bezzecchi reclaiming P1 by a wide margin. In the final five minutes, both Ducati riders pushed hard. Marquez shadowed Bagnaia, but their efforts faltered. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed at Turn 12 from P6, Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) went down at Turn 3, and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) fell at Turn 8, triggering yellow flags that canceled Bagnaia’s lap. Despite a personal best, Bagnaia settled for P16, while late improvements from Yamaha’s Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo pushed Marquez out of the top 10 to P11.

For the first time since the 2024 German GP, Marquez will compete in Q1, and both factory Ducati riders find themselves there together for the first time since the 2023 Valencian GP—a stunning turn of events in MotoGP.

Friday’s Top 10

Bezzecchi led the way, followed by Aldeguer and Acosta. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) secured an impressive P4, with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in P5, showcasing Aprilia’s strength. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) took P6, followed by Quartararo (P7), Rins (P8), Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) in P9, and Alex Marquez clinging to P10.

What’s Next?

Bezzecchi and Aprilia set the pace in Mandalika, leaving rivals scrambling. Saturday promises intense action with Q1, Q2, and the Tissot Sprint.

Friday Practice Results