GRESINI DUO STRUGGLES AFTER CRASHES IN INDONESIAN GP PRACTICE

Gresini Racing’s Indonesian Grand Prix weekend began a year ago with a memorable double podium. Fermin Aldeguer won and Alex Marquez finished third, as the team ran near the front throughout the sessions. Pedro Acosta was the only rider to prevent Gresini from claiming an even bigger triumph.

The team’s return to Lombok in 2025 has been far more difficult. Aldeguer crashed at Turn 1 in first practice, but escaped injury, returned to the track and ended the session ninth, ahead of Marquez. Both riders then fell during the later practice session, leaving Gresini’s mechanics with substantial repair work.

Marquez managed to set a lap before crashing, giving him a chance of securing direct passage to Q2. After the fall, the reigning vice-champion sat in the garage with an ice pack on his elbow. He ended the session 0.847 seconds off the pace after 60 minutes in the heat.

Aldeguer, last year’s winner, also got back out on track after his second crash, but his replacement bike failed before he could make a final qualifying attempt. He rolled to a stop in the gravel and finished 1.4 seconds short of the time needed to reach Q2.

Both riders were left to receive massages and physiotherapy rather than attend media duties, while the Gresini crew continued working in the garage. Heading into Saturday’s sprint, the team was third among Ducati’s outfits, behind the factory Lenovo squad and VR46 Racing.