MARTIN RECLAIMS MOTOGP LEAD WITH MANDALIKA PODIUM

Jorge Martin reclaimed the MotoGP championship lead with third place in the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika, restoring his two-point advantage over Marc Marquez after briefly losing top spot following Saturday’s sprint. Marquez finished sixth.

The Aprilia rider had a difficult opening, dropping to sixth on the first lap after losing a position at the start. He stayed composed and worked his way forward, passing Fabio Di Giannantonio and then moving ahead of Marquez on lap three. Martin said he had tried to advance “step by step” rather than let the poor start unsettle him.

Victory, however, was beyond reach. Aprilia teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Raúl Fernández, who finished ahead, had been stronger throughout the weekend, Martin said. “I gave my best, but Marco and Raúl were stronger than me all weekend. Whenever I thought I was as quick as them, they improved again.” He added that he had achieved the maximum available to him.

Martin also had to manage his effort after missing out on the sprint win the previous day. In the closing laps, he struggled with both his tyres and his physical condition, but held on for the podium. “I had big problems with my tyres, but also with my physical condition,” he said. “Still, I got on the podium, so I’m happy.”

The result marked Martin’s third consecutive Grand Prix podium and put him back ahead of Marquez in the standings. He acknowledged that the title fight would remain difficult, but was determined to keep pushing: “The fight goes on, we’re still leading! It will continue to be difficult, but I’ll give everything.”