First-placed Prima Pramac Racing’s Spanish rider Jorge Martin celebrates after winning the MotoGP race of the Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika International Circuit in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara, on Sept.29, 2024. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
D
espite a crucial mistake that left him with no points in a sprint race on Saturday, Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing triumphed in a scorching Indonesian MotoGP event at the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday.
He maintained his lead in the standings over two-time MotoGP champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, who finished in third place. Rookie Pedro Acosta of Red Bull Gasgas Tech3 claimed second, crossing the finish line 1.4 seconds behind Martin.
The win brings the 26-year-old rider one step closer to securing his maiden MotoGP title, in a season his rival has dubbed the “championship of mistakes”, with the title still very much up for grabs.
The Spanish rider repeated the consistent performance he demonstrated during the practice and qualifying sessions, which put him at pole position for the sixth time so far this year, setting a new all-time lap record at the Indonesian circuit.
Martin led from the start to the finish line, maintaining a significant time gap over the other riders throughout the race. This victory marks his first win since the French Grand Prix in May, despite standing on the podium seven times in the following nine races.
He bounced back from a mistake he made on the first lap of the sprint race a day earlier, which caused him to fall at turn 16 and finish 10th, earning zero points. He referred to the mistake as a blip, as everything had worked well for him afterward.
“I just think it is that particular corner that is a bit more slippery. Afterwards, going through that corner, everything was going well. I mean, I crashed, but I finished 10th after overtaking 10 bikes [in 12 laps],” he told reporters at the time.
