MotoGP: Bagnaia's superb Indonesia win takes Michelin's score to 500 premier-class victories!

Francesco Bagnaia produced an assertive display to win the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, Round 15 of the 2023 MotoGPTM World Championship. In doing so, the Ducati Lenovo Team star earned Michelin's 500th win in motorcycle racing's premier class (500cc/MotoGPTM). Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) made it three different bike manufacturers and the same number of different tire pairings on the podium to provide yet another illustration of the MICHELIN Power Slick range's exceptional versatility.

As the temperature of the recently-laid asphalt at the Mandalika venue on the Indian Ocean coast soared to a season-high of 60°C, choosing the most competitive tire combination for the start of Sunday's grand prix proved extremely complex. With Michelin's technical staff recommending to avoid the rear soft due to the heat, the majority of the riders ended up opting for the medium rear paired with either the soft, medium or hard front.

Bagnaia got away strongly from 13th on the grid on hard and medium MICHELIN Power Slicks front and rear to figure in sixth spot by the end of the first of the afternoon's 27 laps. Helped by the consistency and grip of his tires, he soon made contact with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Viñales at the front of the field.
 
Martin's fall on Lap 13 promoted the championship leader to second spot and a sequence of quick laps enabled him to ease past Viñales seven laps later. He went on to collect his sixth win of the year and rack up Michelin's 500th victory in the sport's premier class since 1973.

Viñales (medium slicks front and rear) was second past the flag, while third-placed Quartararo (soft front/medium rear) made it three different bike manufacturers and as many different tire combinations on the podium to underline the outstanding versatility of Michelin's MotoGPTM range.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (4th, Gresin Racing Team) was the best-placed independent team rider at the finish and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) rounded out the day's top five despite suffering from a broken collarbone.

The Indonesian weekend also saw Michelin contribute to two new records. Several riders bettered the circuit's existing benchmark during Friday's free practice, but Luca Marini (1m29.978s, Mooney VR46 Racing Team) shaved more than a second off the previous best on his way to claiming the first pole-position of his career at this level. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) celebrated his return to the championship by posting the fastest race-lap (1m30.035s).

Saturday's Sprint Race was won by Jorge Martin.
 
Bagnaia continues to top the provisional Riders' standings on 346 points, chased by Martin (328) and Bezzecchi (283).

Next round: MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Phillip Island (October 20-22).