Mandalika gave the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team one of its warmest weekends of the year, even if Sunday’s result fell short of the mood in the grandstands.
Fabio Di Giannantonio crossed the line eighth and Franco Morbidelli 14th, both racing in a special Garuda livery that paid tribute to Indonesia’s national symbol. A record crowd of 157,875 fans attended the Grand Prix.
Front Lock Ends Podium Hopes
The Italian started third on the front row but slipped to fifth on the opening lap. He stayed patient early, knowing his rivals had a little extra pace, and focused on staying within striking distance.
That plan unraveled at Turn 10. A heavy front lock caused strong vibrations and robbed him of feel at the front, and he admitted he was lucky not to crash. He now sits sixth in the standings on 245 points.
He still called it one of the team’s best weekends of the season, with a front row start and a Sprint podium to show for the Di Giannantonio Mandalika effort.
Morbidelli Recovers After a Rough Start
Morbidelli started from the fourth row but lost seven places off the line and was 19th by the second lap. Once his tyres reached their ideal temperature, his feeling improved and he steadily worked his way forward to 14th, collecting two points.
He was the fastest Ducati rider on the final lap and third quickest on the grid, but the chequered flag came too soon. He is 16th overall on 59 points.
Team manager Pablo Nieto called the weekend bittersweet and thanked the Indonesian fans and Pertamina Lubricants for making the team feel at home from Jakarta to Lombok.
After a one-week break, MotoGP heads to Phillip Island for the final time from October 23 to 25, opening the last overseas triple-header. On this Di Giannantonio Mandalika form, VR46 arrives with real reasons for optimism.
