Enea Bastianini breaks Mandalika lap record to top the second practice session for the 2024 Indonesian MotoGP ahead of Jorge Martin.
On a hot and humid Friday, Bastianini riding for the Ducati Lenovo Team clocked an impressive time of 1 minute 29.630 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by championship leader Jorge Martin.
This remarkable feat not only highlights his growing prowess on the track but also positions him as a key player in the ongoing championship battle.
The excitement surrounding this event began to build after Bastianini’s recent victory at the Emilia Romagna GP, where he demonstrated exceptional speed and racecraft. His momentum carried over into Mandalika, where he quickly established himself as a frontrunner during practice sessions.
The second free practice session was particularly crucial for all riders as they sought to refine their setups and strategies ahead of qualifying. While Franco Morbidelli led a surprise charge from both Pramac riders during first practice, the afternoon session saw a significant shift in dynamics as riders began to push harder for faster times.
Early on, Morbidelli set a benchmark with a time of 1:30.673 seconds. Shortly after, Marc Marquez made headlines by briefly taking over the top spot with a lap time of 1:30.590 seconds before rookie Pedro Acosta of Tech3 GASGAS posted an impressive 1:30.411 seconds after recovering from an early crash at Turn 1.
As the session progressed, Enea Bastianini began to find his rhythm but it became clear that Martin was not going to let his fast lap slip easily after setting a new lap record of 1:29.670. However, its wasn’t long before Bastianini responded with a 1.29.630 breaking Mandalika lap record.
Jorge Martin finished just 0.040 seconds behind his stablemate, demonstrating that he remains a fierce competitor despite trailing slightly in this session. Morbidelli rounded out the top three with a time of 1:29.709 seconds marking an all-Ducati podium at this stage of practice.
Francesco Bagnaia, who had struggled earlier in the day and found himself languishing in 14th position at one point, managed to turn things around dramatically. With a late surge in pace, he secured fourth place overall—an essential result for the reigning champion as he aims to close the gap on Martin in the championship standings.
Marco Bezzecchi continued his strong form by finishing fifth, while Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo placed sixth—an encouraging sign for the Japanese manufacturer amidst Ducati’s dominance.
Marquez finished seventh overall after displaying impressive form throughout both practice sessions while Acosta’s determination saw him finish eighth despite his earlier crash. VR46 Ducati’s Fabio Di Giannantonio and Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales rounded out the top ten.
The practice session was not without drama as Aleix Espargaro suffered two crashes that left him struggling to find pace and ultimately placed him down in 15th position. The session also saw crashes from Brad Binder and Alex Marquez, which added to the unpredictability of both qualifying and race day.
As teams prepared for qualifying, all eyes were on Bastianini and Martin, who have been closely matched throughout this season. The tension is palpable as they vie for points that could prove pivotal in their championship battle.
With only six race weekends remaining and Bastianini trailing Martin by 59 points while Bagnaia sits just ahead of him in second place, every lap counts towards their quest for glory.
