Marco Bezzecchi, Ducati MotoGP Mandalika 2023
Marco Bezzecchi, Ducati MotoGP Mandalika 2023

2023 Indonesian MotoGP: Friday Practice - LIVE UPDATES

Reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia is now just 3 points clear of a charging Jorge Martin heading into the final six rounds of the season.

Martin has outscored Bagnaia for the past seven races in a row heading into Mandalika, where Miguel Oliveira took a wet victory in the inaugural 2022 event.

The circuit has been resurfaced (again) since last year’s race. There has been no prior MotoGP testing on the latest asphalt, while the extreme temperatures mean Michelin will bring its heat-resistant stiffer construction rear tyres.

Having slipped 54 points from Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi’s title hopes took another blow when he fractured his collarbone in a training accident last weekend, the same injury suffered by team-mate Luca Marini when he hit the back of Bezzecchi at the start of the Indian Sprint.

Undergoing surgery on Sunday, Bezzecchi aims to join Marini in being back on track this weekend but will need to pass a second medical check after FP1.

Also attempting comebacks are LCR Honda’s Alex Rins (broken leg at Mugello), Lenovo Ducati’s Enea Bastianini (hand and ankle injuries at Catalunya) and Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez (fractured ribs in India).

Marini and Bastianini both have a long lap penalty waiting to be served, for causing accidents.

13 Oct 2023
09:02

A. Espargaro finishes Friday practice fastest from Vinales, Bezzecchi, Binder and Martin. 

09:01

Huge moment for Bagnaia and that's it. He will go through Q1. Joan Mir has crashed in the final sector. 

08:59

What a lap from Espargaro. The Aprilia rider has blown Bezzecchi's time out of the water.

08:58

Miller has crashed again! It's turn one this time. 

08:56

Enea Bastianini has crashed at turn 11. It's been a disaster for the Italian this afternoon. 

08:55

there's just five minutes remaining of Practice 2 at Mandalika.

08:50

Wow! Bezzecchi finds another two tenths on the lap Vinales set. What a lap from the Italian. 

08:50

Vinales sets the first sub 1m 31s lap to go top. 

08:48
Espargaro is down

Espargaro has crashed after beginning his latest lap with two stunning sectors. It's a turn ten fall. 

08:47

He does! Espargaro finds nearly three tenths and leads Vinales by 0.263s.

08:46

Espargaro is flying at the moment and could improve his top time...

08:43

The time attack runs are coming in with just under 20 minutes remaining. Di Giannantonio is out on a new soft front and rear combination. 

08:28

Bagnaia is only 15th and has so far struggled in Practice 2. 

08:25

Marc Marquez has gone early with his time attack. 

08:18

Espargaro is back at the top of the leaderboard after going top by just -0.004s. 

08:14

Another turn 11 fall and it's another KTM rider- Jack Miller has gone down. 

08:12

Maverick Vinales goes fastest with a time of 1:31.351 in order to lead an Aprilia 1-2.

08:11

It was a turn 11 fall for Binder and Fernandez.

08:08

Crashes for Brad Binder and Augusto Fernandez. The two collided after Binder initially went down. 

08:03

Good morning and welcome to Friday practice at Mandalika. MotoGP Practice 2 is underway.

04:41

FP1 ends with Jorge Martin fastest by 0.102s from Maverick Vinales with Aleix Espargaro 0.536s adrift in third.

04:37

Bezzecchi falls at high speed through Turn 11. Fortunately, he is on his feet and walking away without any obvious sign of having re-damaged the collarbone.