Moto GP - Jorge Martin takes championship lead as Marc Marquez crashes out of Indonesian Grand Prix Sprint Race
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Updated 14/10/2023 at 12:43 GMT
Jorge Martin made it six wins in seven to take the championship lead in Indonesia following victory in an action-packed sprint race on Saturday at Mandalika, with the Prima Pramac Racing rider overtaking Francesco Bagnaia in the standings. Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez crashed out of the race on Turn 11, as Marco Bezzecchi made a sensational comeback from injury to make a podium finish.
LOMBOK, INDONESIA - OCTOBER 14: Jorge Martin of Spain and Prima Pramac Racing on the Sprint podium during the Sprint of the MotoGP Pertamina Grand Prix on October 14, 2023 in Lombok, Indonesia. (Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty Images)
Image credit: Eurosport
Jorge Martin leads the MotoGP championship following a victorious sprint race win at the Indonesian Grand Prix on Saturday.
It was a drama-filled race with plenty going on, but Martin stole the headlines after recovering from a crash in qualifying to win the sprint race and take the overall lead going into Sunday’s main event.
The Spaniard has overtaken Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia and now sits on 328 points as the season edges to its conclusion.
“I feel super,” Martin said, referring to how he dealt with the high-pressure race. “Starting from six maybe wasn’t the best, for sure it’s not the best for tomorrow, but at least I was able to overtake on a track that’s normally very difficult.
“I was able to fight, fight back all of the guys in front. Winning was tough because Luca [Marini] was really fast at the end, but leading the championship at this point feels great, it’s a dream.
“I still have the same mentality, but for sure I am so, so happy at this point to be in the front. Hopefully, we can finish the weekend tomorrow in the same way.”
Both Martin and Marco Bezzecchi had golden opportunities to close the gap on leader Bagnaia after a poor showing in qualifying.
Despite crashes for both in separate incidents on Turn 16, the pair still managed to finish ahead of the Italian in qualifying, as Martin went on to crucially win the sprint race.
Bezzecchi was happy enough to remain in contention despite doubts over his involvement in Indonesia after suffering a collarbone injury last week and undergoing surgery just days ago.
“Until Wednesday morning I didn’t even know if I could start or not,” he said. “It’s fantastic to be here, I was a bit lucky in the race but I was very, very fast so it’s fantastic to get this podium after the operation on the collarbone.
“The team did an unbelievable job. Tomorrow will be very hard, for sure, but I will give my all as always.”
Martin got his crucial win in the sprint race as he charged through the field from sixth and dismantled Maverick Vinales of the lead with five laps remaining before cruising to the flag.
Luca Marini and Bezzecchi both battled collarbone injuries to secure a podium finish, making it an all-Ducati 1-2-3.
Marc Marquez continued his season to forget when the eight-time world champion crashed out of the sprint race in the first lap on Turn 11, while Brad Binder also felt the full force of the tricky Turn 16 at the Mandalika circuit when he was taken out by Aleix Espargaro.
The win for Martin earned the Spaniard a 10-point swing over Bagnaia and now leads him by seven points in the overall championship going into Sunday’s race.
Another injured rider, Marini, topped qualifying to earn a debut pole position.
Sprint race winner Martin has given himself work to do on Sunday with a sixth-place finish and will the race behind Maverick Vinales, Espargaro, Fabio Quartararo and Binder.
Marquez will begin the race in eighth and Bagnaia will look to make amends after conceding his championship lead from 13th.
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