MARQUEZ TAKES A MORE MEASURED APPROACH TO INDONESIAN GP

Marc Marquez says he is approaching the Indonesian Grand Prix with a different mindset from the one he brought to Mandalika as the newly crowned 2025 MotoGP champion. Last year’s visit began a Ducati title celebration but ended abruptly: Marco Bezzecchi misjudged his speed while recovering from a poor start and collided with Marquez on the opening lap. The Spaniard fractured his right shoulder, underwent surgery for a coracoid fracture and ligament damage, and missed the rest of the season.

The circumstances are markedly different this time. Marquez arrives second in the 2026 standings, just two points behind Aprilia’s Jorge Martin, rather than leading by 201 points as he did a year ago. With Michelin’s heat-resistant rear tyre in use at Mandalika, Martin could have an opportunity to extend his advantage. Marquez says his priority is to concentrate on what he can control.

“I definitely arrive here with a different attitude,” he said. “I have to focus on the present, work as best as possible with the team, and give it my all.” Recalling his progress over last year’s weekend, he added: “Last year, I felt progressively better throughout the weekend, so we’ll see how it goes this time. Now, I feel better, and the bike has also improved a lot.”

Friday’s running offered little evidence that Marquez would be an immediate podium threat. He was second behind Bezzecchi in FP1, then ended timed practice fifth as Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez set a lap record. Marquez was 0.701 seconds off Fernandez, while KTM’s Pedro Acosta also showed stronger one-lap pace.

Former rider Neil Hodgson believes Marquez’s willingness to manage risk could be important in the title fight. He suggested that two fourth-place results across the Sprint and Grand Prix would leave the Ducati rider “quietly happy” if they prevented Martin from opening a substantial gap.

“Riding within himself because of strategy and not injury is a new aspect to Marquez’s game,” Hodgson told TNT Sports. He contrasted the current approach with Marquez’s former tendency to attack immediately: “In the past, his red-mist instinct would take over at Turn 1; he’d try to over-ride the bike, and he’d end up in the gravel. Now, he’s calculated. He knows his boundaries; he either has the package to win, or he settles for maximum points.”