MotoGP 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix begins with practice sessions at Mandalika
The 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix opened Friday with free practice sessions for all three classes at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, as championship leader Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez prepare for another close battle.
MotoGP 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix begins with practice sessions at Mandalika
The 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix weekend commenced on Friday with riders across the Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP classes taking to the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara, for their first free practice sessions.
The 4.3-kilometer circuit, which features 17 corners including six left-handers and 11 right-handers, welcomed teams and riders who gathered in the paddock ahead of the opening sessions. The venue, capable of hosting nearly 200,000 spectators, has become a significant fixture on the world championship calendar since Indonesia's return to MotoGP racing.
Moto3 riders opened the track action from 9:00 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. Central Indonesia Time, using the 35-minute window to evaluate their machines and prepare for the weekend ahead. Veda Pratama represented Indonesian hopes in the class.
The Moto2 session followed from 9:50 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with Indonesian rider Mario Suryo Aji of the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia among the competitors assessing track conditions during the 40-minute practice.
MotoGP's premier class concluded the morning running with a 45-minute session from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., providing riders their first opportunity to evaluate bike setups on the Indonesian circuit.
Championship battle intensifies
The Mandalika round arrives at a crucial point in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, with Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin holding a narrow two-point advantage over Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez. Martin leads with 333 points to Marquez's 331 in what has shaped up as one of the closest title fights in recent years.
Martin, who made history in 2024 by becoming the first independent team rider to claim the premier class championship in the MotoGP era with Prima Pramac Racing, switched to the official Aprilia squad for the 2025 season. His rival Marquez joined Ducati Lenovo Team in 2025 after years with Honda, and secured his seventh world title last season in what has been described as one of motorsport's greatest comebacks.
The Indonesian Grand Prix marks a homecoming of sorts for the country's motorsport heritage. The race returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2022 after a 25-year absence, having previously been held at Sentul International Circuit in 1996 and 1997. The Mandalika venue first hosted international competition with the Superbike World Championship in November 2021 before welcoming MotoGP the following year.
Track certification and weekend schedule
On Thursday, the circuit received Grade A homologation from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme for the 2026 racing season, confirming its compliance with requirements to host the FIM Grand Prix World Championship. The assessment covered technical and operational aspects including run-off areas, gravel beds, tire barriers, track markings, pit facilities, and safety systems.
Friday's schedule includes afternoon practice sessions, with Moto3 returning at 1:15 p.m., followed by Moto2 at 2:05 p.m. and MotoGP at 3:00 p.m. The weekend builds toward Saturday's qualifying sessions and sprint race, culminating in Sunday's main race on October 11. The premier class will contest 27 laps covering a total distance of 116.13 kilometers.
The event is projected to deliver significant economic impact for the region, with officials targeting 5 trillion rupiah in economic activity. Local preparations have included setting up 20 stalls for small and medium enterprises in Mataram to capitalize on the influx of motorsport fans from around the world.