LOMBOK, SEPT 27 — Ducati rider Enea Bastianini set a new record at MotoGP Indonesia practice today, thus positioning himself as a prime candidate to challenge championship leader Jorge Martin.
With wet weather conditions at the Mandalika Circuit, Pramac team’s Martin set a new record with the fastest time ahead of Bastianini, known by the nickname The Beast, breaking the record with a time of one minute 29.630 seconds.
Defending champion Francesco Bagnaia, fourth and 0.082 seconds behind, now plans to chase Martin in the drivers’ championship standings, where he trails by 24 points with six races remaining.
Bastianini and Gresini rider Marc Marquez are now 59 and 60 points behind Martin respectively. Marquez finished the practice session in seventh position.
Redbull GasGas rider Pedro Acosta crashed out of the circuit but returned to finish in the top 10 and advance to tomorrow’s second round of qualifying.
However, luck was not on the side of Aprilia rider Miguel Oliveira, who suffered a fractured right wrist in practice this morning, thus confirming his withdrawal from this weekend’s race. His participation in the Japanese MotoGP next week is also still in doubt.
The morning practice session was dominated by Franco Morbidelli, who finished third in the final practice.
A total of 10 fastest riders in practice qualify for tomorrow’s second qualifying session, which will determine position on the race grid. – AFP
