A challenging weekend at the Indonesian Grand Prix saw the Repsol Honda Team facing a double DNF (Did Not Finish) as both Marc Marquez and Joan Mir fell during their quest for a top-ten finish.
The Falls
In a race where nearly one-third of the grid grappled with issues and spills, the Repsol Honda Team’s riders became unfortunate casualties of the tumultuous Indonesian Grand Prix. Marc Marquez’s tumble occurred on lap seven, and a few laps later, on lap 12, Joan Mir also met with a fall. The silver lining was that both riders escaped unscathed from their accidents.
Before his fall, Marc Marquez had maintained a steady pace within the top ten, occupying the eighth position. Meanwhile, Joan Mir had staged a spectacular comeback, climbing from a 19th place starting position to reach as high as 11th. In a spirited battle with Nakagami, Joan Mir exhibited consistent lap times, suggesting he had the potential to challenge the top six.
The disappointment was palpable in the Repsol Honda Team’s camp, but there’s little time to dwell on it. The racing circus heads straight to Australia for Round 16 at the renowned Phillip Island Circuit, providing the perfect opportunity for redemption.
Marc Marquez Statement
“The weekend started in a good way, but day by day, it became more complicated. Today in the race, I kept calm, I was losing a little bit of ground, but I was not panicking. The aim was to finish the race, and I was riding with this in mind. Unfortunately, at one point in Turn 13, I lost the front, and I couldn’t save it. A tricky crash to understand, but we start thinking about Australia.”
Joan Mir Statement
“Look, I crashed, so obviously, the result is a disaster, but I could see some potential today. I made a good start, but I got caught up with Morbidelli a bit. Then I was recovering, and I had a good pace in the 1’31s, catching the group with Miller and these guys. The only guy doing better times in front was Martin, so we really have to focus on this – it’s a positive point. I am happy for this, but obviously not happy to fall. Now, we get to go straight to Phillip Island, a track I really like, so hopefully, we can have some more pace there and keep improving.”
Indonesian Grand Prix Results:
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
- Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing)
- Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (Team Gresini Racing MotoGP)
- Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team)
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team)
- Alex Rins (LCR Honda)
- Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)
With the Indonesian Grand Prix delivering unexpected twists and turns, the Repsol Honda Team sets its sights on the challenging Phillip Island Circuit. Despite the weekend’s disappointments, both Marquez and Mir remain determined to make their mark in Australia.
Current Rider Standings:
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – 346 points
- Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) – 328 points
- Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – 283 points
- Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 211 points
- Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – 177 points
- Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) – 165 points
Despite the setbacks, the Repsol Honda Team looks forward to an opportunity for redemption in the Australian GP. The team remains resilient in the face of adversity, ready to tackle the challenges of the upcoming races.