Watch Indonesian MotoGP — Practice Free.

What's at Stake

The Friday afternoon practice session at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is a high-stakes scramble where the top 10 riders secure direct passage into Saturday's Q2 qualifying shootout. Missing out on the top 10 forces riders into the unpredictable Q1 session, severely compromising their starting grid prospects for both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix. As the championship battle intensifies in the latter half of the season, avoiding the midfield traffic on this dusty, demanding track is crucial for the title contenders.

Form Guide

Heading into the Indonesian Grand Prix, the grid faces a highly technical circuit known for its extreme heat and rapidly evolving track grip. Recent rounds have shown a fierce battle between the dominant Ducati machinery and the chasing Aprilia and KTM riders, who traditionally excel in low-grip, high-temperature conditions. Momentum is key at this stage of the flyaway races, and the riders who can quickly dial in their electronics and tire management during the morning session will hold a massive advantage when the time-attack runs begin in the afternoon.

Key Players to Watch

• Jorge Martin — The Pramac Ducati rider is historically formidable in pure-pace time attacks and will look to set an early benchmark to secure his Q2 spot.
• Francesco Bagnaia — The reigning world champion excels at methodical race preparation, but he must find immediate single-lap speed to avoid any Friday afternoon drama.
• Maverick Viñales — Known for his affinity with the flowing layout of the Mandalika circuit, the Aprilia rider is a strong candidate to disrupt the Ducati hegemony during the soft-tire runs.

Prediction

Expect Ducati to dominate the upper echelons of the timesheets, but the extreme heat will keep the margins incredibly tight. Jorge Martin is predicted to top the session with a blistering late lap, closely followed by Francesco Bagnaia and a surging Maverick Viñales. Ultimately, the factory Ducati and Aprilia teams will comfortably secure their Q2 spots, leaving the satellite riders to battle fiercely for the final positions in the top 10.