PEDROSA SAYS MANDALIKA’S FAST DIRECTION CHANGES COULD TROUBLE MARQUEZ

Marc Marquez’s victory at Motegi has brought him within two points of championship leader Jorge Martin, but Dani Pedrosa believes the next round in Indonesia could pose a particular challenge for the Ducati rider.

Marquez took his sixth win in nine races at the Japanese Grand Prix and completed his fifth double-win weekend of the season, scoring the maximum 37 points. He is now 47 points ahead of third-placed Marco Bezzecchi. With six rounds remaining, Marquez sees himself and the two factory Aprilia riders as the main contenders for the title.

Mandalika, however, has not been a happy circuit for Marquez: he has yet to finish a Grand Prix there. Last year’s event brought a heavy crash that left him with a dislocated shoulder and nerve damage. He also skipped the pre-race go-kart event at Motegi, with the report noting that he has been careful to preserve his fitness.

Pedrosa said Marquez would already be thinking beyond his Japanese GP win. “An athlete always lives in the future, and that’s true,” he said on DAZN. “You’re on the podium celebrating the victory, but you’re already thinking about next week’s corners, ‘I have to do it like this…’”

The former rider pointed to Mandalika’s layout and Aprilia’s potential there. Marquez has not had strong results at the circuit, Pedrosa said, while the opening two sectors suit Aprilia. He also recalled Bezzecchi’s speed last year, adding that the Italian might have won had he not made a mistake on Sunday.

Pedrosa said conserving energy between races is important for Marquez, who needs to arrive at each event in the best possible condition. The Indonesian circuit’s rapid changes of direction could make that especially important. “With so many changes of direction in Indonesia, it’s going to be tough,” he said. “The changes of direction are at high speed, which is what makes Marc suffer the most.”

Motegi’s heavy braking zones, Pedrosa explained, are demanding but largely take place in a straight line. Mandalika’s faster direction changes present a different test, one he believes could trouble Marquez as the championship battle continues.