QUARTARARO CALLS FOR MANDALIKA GRAVEL TRAP FIX AFTER PRACTICE CRASH

Fabio Quartararo has renewed calls for safety improvements at Mandalika after a Friday practice crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix sent him tumbling through the gravel at Turn 9. The Yamaha rider escaped serious injury, but said the transition from the asphalt run-off to the gravel made the incident more dangerous.

“I’m a bit sore on the left side,” Quartararo said. He described the crash itself as fast but not severe, adding that hitting the gravel was “the worst part”. He had no broken bones, only muscle soreness, and expected to feel stiff the following morning.

The incident revived concerns raised after Marc Marquez’s crash at the circuit last year, when a shoulder injury sustained in the gravel ended his season. Quartararo said he had been fortunate: “Today I was lucky because the crash was nothing spectacular, but just when you hit the gravel it’s bad. So, they have to do something on this area.”

He pointed to what he sees as a height difference between the track and the gravel trap. “I think we need to put it at least as the same height as the tarmac,” he said, explaining that the raised edge can make a rider “bump in the air” on entering the gravel.

Marquez also acknowledged the recurring complaints, while stressing that riders should not be expected to inspect every corner themselves. “We always complain,” he said, arguing that the gravel is a safety concern for both riders and motorcycles. He added that reducing damage to riders and bikes could also help control costs. The area is particularly concerning, he said, because it is “super-fast” and crashes into the gravel at that speed can cause significant harm. “It’s people who work for that, so just try to ride without thinking about those kinds of things.”

Despite the fall, Quartararo returned to the track and finished Practice seventh, securing a place in Q2. He admitted that getting back on the bike and making two time attacks after a crash was not ideal, but said he felt good. He also reported improved tyre warm-up compared with last year, particularly with the medium compound. Yamaha still lacks grip and turning performance, he said, though Mandalika’s limited number of long straights helps the bike.