Marc Marquez on his strategy in Indonesia: “I’m going to attack!”

The Mandalika International Circuit has been on the MotoGP calendar since 2022. In four races there, champion Marc Márquez has managed to score just eleven World Championship points. Furthermore, he has never managed to finish a Sunday race. In 2025, the Spaniard was taken out on the first lap of the Grand Prix by Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi – the crash ended not only his race, but also his season.

This season, the outlook is different. “Compared to last year, I’ve come here under completely different circumstances,” Marquez confirmed at the opening press conference for the 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix. “I’m simply focusing on the present and trying to get off to a good start here. We want to work well in our pit and give it our all. Last year, I felt better and better as the weekend went on. That’s the aim for this year too.”

Marc Marquez: “It’s obvious that the circuit suits the Aprilia better”

Over the last six race weekends, Marc Marquez has secured four one-two finishes – he’s on a real roll. In the World Championship standings, MM93 is just two points behind Aprilia rider Jorge Martin ahead of the Indonesian Grand Prix. Will the 33-year-old go all-in this weekend and try to beat the strong Aprilia riders, or will he play it safe? “As I said in Motegi, I’ll try to attack on every track – that’s the aim here too,” Marquez clarified. “I feel better on the bike now; we’ll see what’s possible. But it’s obvious that the circuit suits the Aprilia better. We’ll try to stay close to them.”

On 7 October, MotoGP unveiled the new weekend format, which will come into effect from the 2027 season. Among other things, there will be a sprint qualifying session on Friday next year, and the total time spent on track will be slightly reduced for the MotoGP riders. “We need to understand the main objective behind the changes. For the rider, the adjustment means greater intensity; it will be more demanding. With the current schedule, it’s actually already enough. But we don’t decide that. It is what it is, and we have to adapt to it,” was the nine-time champion’s terse reply. The MotoGP riders are the stars of the show – so why can’t they have a say? “The teams and the organisers decide. You either accept it or leave it.”

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Mandalika: International Livestream

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09.10.2026 - 02:55