The 2025 Indonesian MotoGP round will take place at Mandalika International Street Circuit, on Lombok island, Indonesia, as part of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. The MotoGP race is slated for October 4, 2025, following a weekend of free practice, qualifying, and the Sprint on October 4 (the same day) as per the current MotoGP schedule.
One of the biggest headlines leading into Mandalika is the confirmed absence of Jorge Martín. He underwent surgery for a displaced right collarbone fracture sustained in the MotoGP sprint at Motegi (Japanese GP) and will not participate in the Indonesian GP. He will not be replaced for this round. Also, Aprilia’s roster is reduced: Ai Ogura, another Aprilia rider, will also sit out Mandalika after medical assessment judged he cannot safely ride the RS-GP25 there. No major additional withdrawals have been broadly reported for the MotoGP class immediately before the race weekend.
In pre-race commentary, teams and observers expected that managing tyre wear, especially rear tyre degradation, would be critical at Mandalika given its abrasive surface and hot conditions. Riders who can regulate pace in the middle stint and avoid overheating or drop-off will have an advantage. Also, given Mandalika’s limited overtaking zones, qualifying position and clean starts matter more than usual. Some teams were noted to weigh the tradeoff between short bursts of pace versus sustainable race pace over 27 laps (the typical premier class distance).
In media previews, a common theme was that pole sitter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) had impressed, not least because he broke the lap record to claim pole. The press also emphasized that with Martín out, the fight for podium and championship positioning would shift. Some outlets projected Bezzecchi, Marc Márquez, and rising challengers like Pedro Acosta or Fermin Aldeguer as key contenders. The media also flagged Mandalika’s tricky layout and limited run-offs, warning that mistakes could be costly.
In broadcast previews, analysts leaned toward Bezzecchi as favorite given his strong qualifying pace, though they cautioned about race-day pressures and tyre drop. Some picked Márquez as a dangerous outsider, especially with less opposition from Martín. Others speculated that wildcard or dark-horse riders might disrupt the top ranks through smart pacing or bold strategy. Analysts debated whether the absence of Martín could open up more tactical freedom for Bezzecchi or force Aprilia to rely heavily on him. Overall, the consensus: it would likely be tight at the front, with strategic execution being a deciding factor more than sheer one-lap speed.
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