2022 Indonesian MotoGP, Mandalika – Warm-up Results

Update: Marc Marquez has been taken to a local hospital for further medical checks.

* Rookie

Pole position time:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 31.067s

Fastest Mandalika pre-season testing time:
Pol Espargaro SPA Honda 1m 31.060s

Fabio Quartararo leads morning warm-up for the Indonesian MotoGP at a dry Mandalika, but all eyes were on Marc Marquez, who staggered slowly away from surely the biggest highside of his career.

After three accidents already this weekend, as the Honda riders battle to find grip from the revised rear tyre casing, Marquez held on during a scary moment earlier in warm-up – but had no chance of saving the huge 180km/h Turn 7 incident, which saw the (soft) rear tyre let go off-throttle then viciously bite, firing the eight-time world champion into a complete somersault.

Fortunately, while his RC213V was heavly damaged, Marquez eventually got to his feet and walked out of the gravel, albeit pausing several times. He was later seen in the paddock (pictured) before making his way to the medical centre on a scooter. MotoGP has announced enhanced fitness checks for riders seeking to return to action after a big accident in 2022.

Just terrifying.#IndonesianGP Ha7D9NJ3N4

— MotoGP (@_motogp) March 20, 2022

Meanwhile, pole starter Quartararo had no such rear tyre issues, starting on a used soft rear to clock up a race distance on the rubber. The reigning world champion then topped the session by 0.4s on his final lap, with Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales a surprise second and Miguel Oliveira third for KTM.

Marquez – who must now hope he is granted medical permission to start the race from his lowly 14th (but top Honda) grid position – was fourth fastest. Team-mate Pol Espargaro, who isn’t sure he can finish the race distance due to the lack of rear grip ‘pushing’ (and overheating) the front tyre, was twelfth.

Despite the first dry morning of the race weekend, rain is a risk for this afternoon.

MotoGP’s only prior track time at Mandalika came during a dusty three-day test in February, after which emergency resurfacing was required on around 25% of the circuit, from Turn 17 (the final corner) until after Turn 5.

In response to tyre overheating issues at the test, Michelin has brought a different, heat-resistant, casing that was last used at Buriram 2018.

This weekend’s event marks the first Indonesian motorcycle grand prix since Sentul in 1997.

Sunday schedule – Mandalika

Moto3 Warm-up: 10:00-10:10 (02:00-02:10 UK)
Moto2 Warm-up: 10:20-10:30 (02:20 -02:30 UK)
MotoGP Warm-up: 10:40-11:00 (02.40-03.00 UK)

“4

Moto3 Race (23 laps): 12:00 (04:00 UK)
Moto2 Race (25 laps): 13:20 (05:20 UK)
MotoGP Race (27 laps): 15:00 (07:00 UK)

• Fabio Quartararo claims first Mandalika pole – Marc Marquez es twice
• Indonesian MotoGP: Full results from Free Practice 4
• Indonesian MotoGP: Full results from Free Practice 3
• Indonesian Moto GP: Full results from Free Practice 2

 

• Indonesian Moto2: Full results from Qualifying
• Britain’s Jake Dixon earns historic pole position

 

“5

• Indonesian Moto3: Full results from Qualifying
• Carlos Tatay earns his first-ever pole position