TARDOZZI SAYS A 10- TO 12-POINT LOSS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE FOR DUCATI IN INDONESIA

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi said the team could accept losing 10 or 12 points at this weekend’s Indonesian Grand Prix. His comments were aimed mainly at Marc Marquez, Ducati’s leading factory rider and a contender in the championship fight. Marquez has struggled at Mandalika, and Tardozzi also questioned whether Ducati’s current GP26 would suit the circuit.

Marquez arrives just two points behind Jorge Martin after scoring 37 points at Motegi, with six rounds remaining. The title contest is between Ducati and Aprilia, and Mandalika is expected to suit the Aprilia RS-GP, with Martin and Marco Bezzecchi among the likely front-runners.

Marquez has yet to finish a Grand Prix at the Indonesian circuit since it returned to the calendar. A highside in 2022 brought back his double-vision problems and led to a lengthy recovery. He also failed to finish in 2023 and 2024, then was taken out by Bezzecchi last year at the same corner as his 2022 crash. The resulting shoulder injury kept him out of the final four rounds of 2025, although he had already secured the title in Japan. He is still dealing with the crash’s effects, including nerve damage in his right arm, and has been avoiding unnecessary risks while recovering from surgery.

Despite that record, Marquez believes this year can be different. Speaking to DAZN after the Japanese GP, he said: “I’ve never finished there. The truth is, I’ve had a bit of bad luck on that track. Last year in the Sprint, I didn’t feel bad after the penalty. Well, this year will be different. I’m optimistic, we’ll see. I feel better, and since Aragon, the feeling on the bike has been great.”

Tardozzi told TNT Sports 2 that losing 10 or 12 points could be “something that’s not bad”, while stressing Ducati would still go to Indonesia aiming to win. “We can consider losing 10 or 12 points a normal loss at Mandalika, but we’re going there to win,” he said. He also praised Marquez’s influence within the team: “Ultimately, I insist, he’s a leader. He’s a leader in the garage. He knows how to motivate people and how to let the team help him.”

A cautious approach could matter in a title fight this close, particularly given Marquez’s history at the circuit and his ongoing recovery. He will have further chances to score strongly at tracks where he has previously won, including Phillip Island, Sepang, Lusail and Valencia.