MotoGP: Indonesia glory for Bezzecchi, plus new records for Michelin
Round 17 of the 2026 MotoGPTM World Championship was won by Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi who was joined on the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia podium by Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and team-mate Jorge Martin. Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) made it an all-Aprilia top-four as Michelin overcame the fierce heat to contribute to three new records. Read on to find out more about what happened at the Indonesian GP.
Bezzecchi started from second on the grid and held position behind pole-sitter Fernandez for much of the distance as the track temperature climbed to almost 60°C.
In spite of the heat, the front-runners lapped at a strong pace during the early phase of the 27-lap grand prix when the race-lap record was bettered several times. Running on Soft Michelin Power Slicks front and Medium rear like the rest of the field, Bezzecchi eventually found a way past Fernandez on Lap 19 when he also posted the definitive new fastest race-lap (1m29.960s) for the Indonesian venue.
The Italian continued to push and was ultimately rewarded with his fifth victory of the year, his 11th in total... at 11 different circuits!
Fernandez clocked a new track record (1m28.725s) during Friday's free practice but broke two fingers at the start of Saturday's sprint in a tangle with Bezzecchi. He recovered quickly, though, to come fourth in the next day's main attraction, 4.2 seconds behind his fellow Aprilia rider.
Martin was third past the flag but never appeared to be in contention for the win. He was chased over the line by the solid Ogura who enabled Aprilia to monopolize the top four places in a landmark result for the Italian make.
Pedro Acosta (5th, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the weekend's sprint-winner Marc Marquez (6th, Ducati Lenovo Team) traded position a number of times as they entertained spectators with a thrilling scrap for fifth.
Michelin's tires faced big demands at Mandalika, a notoriously demanding circuit where hot weather sent the track temperature soaring. Its Power Slicks stepped up to the mark, however, to combine a strong performance over all three days with another crop of new MotoGPTM records.
Fernandez hit the ground running on Friday to better the previous track record, while Marc Marquez completed the 13-lap sprint race 4.2 seconds faster than the duration of the same fixture in 2025. The former race-lap benchmark for the grand prix itself was bettered on the second of Sunday's 27 laps and then again several times until Bezzecchi clocked a 1m29.960s en route to shaving 17.8 seconds off the previous shortest race-duration reference.
Martin left Indonesia at the top of the provisional Riders' standings, two points clear of Marquez. Bezzecchi (+46 points) is third.
Next round: Grand Prix of Australia, Phillip Island (October 23-25).