This really is the season that keeps giving, isn’t it? After Bagnaia’s double victory in Japan from out of nowhere, attempting to steal a bit of Marquez’s thunder on the weekend, the latter lifted the championship, the circus headed to Indonesia, and no one really had an idea of how it would go. I’d like to bet, however, that no one predicted what eventually came to pass.
It all started in Friday’s practice sessions. When last were there only three Ducatis – one factory and two satellite Ducatis at that – in the top ten of the time sheets after Free Practice, nowhere near the top, and when last did a Honda lead the way? When last did we see Alex Rins in fourth place?
The disbelief continued into the second practice session. Both factory Ducatis had to go through Q1? Where did that come from? Both factory Hondas and both factory Yamahas straight through to Q2; who was writing this script? The only thing that was familiar was Bagnaia languishing way down the order, Japan seemingly forgotten.
After qualifying, the top ten on the grid had an unfamiliar look to it; Aprilia, Gresini Ducati, Aprilia, Yamaha, KTM, Gresini Ducati, Yamaha, factory Ducati and Yamaha. Little did we know that this was only the beginning of the surprises.
With Bezzecchi having taken pole position and looking very fast, we could have been forgiven for thinking he was going to run away from the start. But he made a dreadful start and was down to seventh or eighth as the pack streamed out of the first corner. Marc Marquez made a hash of going inside Rins, who was pushed wide and dropped way down the field, while Marquez got a long-lap penalty.
Meanwhile, Aldeguer was having fun running out in front, with Acosta and Fernandez snapping at his heels. Bezzecchi was making progress towards the front, but Aldeguer was building a two-second lead over Fernandez, helped by Acosta throwing himself down the road. That put Bezzecchi in third but still 2.6 seconds behind Aldeguer. Mind you, his pace was impressive and, if he took a while to get past Fernandez, once he had made the move, he wasted no time getting right up behind Aldeguer, taking the lead on the last lap! Brilliant stuff.
Fernandez took third place and, again, where did that come from? Aldeguer has been threatening to take a podium for a while, so I get his second place, but Fernandez has been a little anonymous on the Trackhouse Aprilia this season.
Marquez had recovered to seventh, but spare a thought for Bagnaia, who crossed the line 30 seconds behind the winner. In a 13-lap Sprint race! Did last weekend really happen?
Bezzecchi once again fluffed the start of the Main race, while Acosta made a lightning getaway to lead. However, the obvious talking point was the fast crash between Bezzecchi and Marquez that saw them both tumble through the gravel, Marquez holding his right arm and clearly in pain. It transpired that he had damaged the collar bone and ligaments, and it raises the question of how quickly he will try to return, given that the championship is sealed in his favour. He’s rushed to come back before with disastrous results, so you have to think that he will take his time this time. Late on Monday came the announcement that he would miss the next two races – Phillip Island and Malaysia – before even thinking about returning.
Up front, meanwhile, Acosta was defending brilliantly from Marini and Aldeguer, with Rins, Quartararo, Binder, Miller and Oliveira close behind. Aldeguer had a few attempts at passing Acosta before finally making it stick on lap seven, and then he simply disappeared off into the distance, building a lead of almost ten seconds over the course of the remainder of the race. Not even Marc Marquez has managed that this year.
Marini and Acosta were enjoying a brilliant battle for second place, and we had the incredible sight of the entire field running nose-to-tail, in one camera shot. Mind you, there were only 14 riders left, Bagnaia having mercifully slid off at the last corner, bringing his dreadful weekend to an end.
Things were so close that on one lap, Marini was second, and the next, after the slightest mistake, he was down to eighth! Alex Marquez was hounding Rins for third, while Rins himself was hounding Acosta for second. What a remarkable turnaround for Rins, who hasn’t seen a podium since his victory in America in 2023. With the chasing pack so close behind, the battle for second place effectively involved eleven riders!
Almost inevitably, however, Rins had overcooked his rear tyre and was starting to struggle, while Alex Marquez had passed both Acosta and Rins to run second. While all this was happening, Brad Binder was having a brilliant race and was running fourth after qualifying only 15th. The KTMs were really going well.
And still it wasn’t finished, Acosta getting second back from Alex Marquez, and that’s the way they finished, Aldeguer way up the road to take his maiden win. With two positions on the podium, it was yet another memorable weekend for Gresini.
After the race, Bagnaia was notable by his absence from any media duties, Ducati saying that they were keeping him away to “protect his emotions.” No need to read between any lines there, but what must be going through his mind right now? A week ago, he must have thought that his troubles were behind him, only to sink even lower at the very next race. With his experience, he has to have built up resilience in the face of difficult times, but how long until that resilience runs out and he implodes? The bike is a winner, as Marquez has proven, so is the problem solely within Bagnaia himself? That has to be preying on his mind, even if logic tells us that not every rider will suit every bike, and vice versa. Logic, however, will be in short supply on his side of the garage at the moment.
Next race is at the fantastic Philip Island circuit, and who is going to dare write a prediction for that? Bezzecchi is ultra-fast, but Aldeguer will have renewed ambition and confidence. The KTMs are fast but unpredictable from one track to the next, and the grid is certainly not short of thrusting young riders out to prove a point in the absence of the King. Who knows, Bagnaia might see the cards fall into place once again and be unstoppable!
It just goes to show that having the championship decided so early can sometimes give us even better racing in the closing rounds.
