MotoGP News: Bezzecchi beats Aldeguer on last lap in Indonesia Sprint

Marco Bezzecchi (pictured) delivered a thrilling comeback to win the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia Tissot Sprint, overtaking rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) on the final lap in a dramatic showdown.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) secured his first MotoGP podium, finishing third after starting on the front row.

Rough Start for Bezzecchi, Penalty for Marquez

Bezzecchi struggled off the line from pole, dropping to eighth as Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) briefly led from sixth. Aldeguer and Fernandez surged ahead, followed by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Meanwhile, a Turn 10 clash on the opening lap between Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) sent both wide, with Rins faring worse. Marquez received a Long Lap penalty for the incident, which he served on Lap 3, dropping to 13th.

Aldeguer Takes Charge, Acosta Crashes

Aldeguer built a 0.5-second lead over Acosta, with Fernandez holding third ahead of Marini and a recovering Bezzecchi. Drama struck when Acosta crashed out of second at Turn 1, handing Aldeguer a 1.8-second advantage. Bezzecchi, now chasing Fernandez for second, began closing the gap with a series of blistering laps.

Bezzecchi vs. Aldeguer: A Thrilling Chase

Clear of traffic, Bezzecchi set the fastest lap of the Sprint, cutting Aldeguer’s lead to just over two seconds with eight laps remaining. By Lap 8, Bezzecchi overtook Fernandez at Turn 10 for second, with Aldeguer 1.9 seconds ahead. The Italian’s pace was relentless, posting a 1:29.638—nearly a second quicker than Aldeguer’s 1:30.379. By the penultimate lap, the gap was down to 0.5 seconds, and at the start of the final lap, it was just 0.3 seconds.

Bezzecchi made his move at Turn 10, edging past Aldeguer despite running slightly wide. The rookie fought back through Turn 12, but Bezzecchi held firm to claim a stunning victory, capping a remarkable recovery from his early struggles. Fernandez secured third, celebrating his first Sprint podium.

Points Finishers and Standings

Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) finished a lonely fourth, bolstering his second-place position in the championship. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) took fifth, while Marini, initially sixth, dropped out of the points after an eight-second tire pressure penalty. This promoted Marc Marquez to sixth after he battled back from his penalty. Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claimed seventh and eighth, with Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) taking the final point in ninth after Marini’s penalty.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), the previous weekend’s Sprint and Grand Prix winner, finished a distant 14th, 29 seconds off the pace, allowing Bezzecchi to close the gap for third in the championship. Despite a tough Saturday, Ducati Lenovo Team clinched the Teams’ Championship, a testament to their strong season, though they’ll aim for a stronger showing in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Indonesia Sprint Race Results