It was sweltering in Lombok. Even the fish were yawning. The volcano refused to erupt, probably hiding from the heat.
By: Karrbon Copy
Pics: MotoGP.com
Moto3
Asia Talent Cup star Mitani filled in for the injured Carraro, while Perrone’s Friday face-plant ruled him out early. Everyone else melted in the paddock as Rueda looked set to wrap up the Championship.
By Lap Two, Muñoz and Fernández were already swapping paint at Turn Ten. Muñoz took the worst of it, casually fixing his handlebar on the move like a proper bush mechanic. Rossi jumped the start and bagged the first of what felt like fifty Long Lap Penalties handed out that day.
Kelso’s bike performed the rare “rear-overtakes-front” maneuver at Turn Ten, landing him in the gravel nap zone. Mitani and Yamanaka were first to miss a corner and collect shortcuts, followed by Quiles and Piqueras, who effectively handed Rueda the title on a silver platter.
Then Fernández, who seemed determined to collect penalties like Pokémon cards, earned another for riding like a lunatic. Mitani later crashed, initially misreported as Nepa due to transponder tomfoolery.
A few laps later, Furusato, Carpe and a very eager Almansa collided when Almansa tried to pass them both at once, like bowling with motorcycles. Furusato even managed to crash again moments later for good measure.
Then came the chaos: Fernández wiped out Muñoz at Turn Twelve in a move that looked more like extreme breakdancing than racing. The Red Flag came out a lap late, results rolled back, and Fernández’s double Long Lap nuked his win. Quiles thought he had a podium, but his own unserved penalty said otherwise.
And so, Rueda became your 2025 Moto3 World Champion! Initially parked in the wrong spot, he was bumped to first when Fernández’s penalties kicked in. Lunetta took second, and Pini bagged his first Moto3 podium in third. Moodley finished a tidy 13th.
An emotional Rueda clung to his golden Champion’s helmet like it might run away, barely managing to speak through the happy tears.
Moto2
Orradre began with a Long Lap preloaded (the officials didn’t even wait for him to misbehave). The opening lap looked like a traffic jam at a demolition derby involving Ramírez, Escrig and possibly Arbolino.
Agius got sent through the penalty loop for elbowing Van den Goorbergh, and Alonso was launched into orbit at Turn Sixteen, landing hard enough to dent the track’s ego. After dramatically throwing himself across his fallen bike like a grieving movie hero, he eventually walked away.
Vietti provided the weekend’s most graceful crash on Lap Seven, half corner, half slide, full elegance. Holgado also folded his front end from second place, stomping off singing “I push my fingers into my EYYYYEEESSS!” under his helmet.
Arbolino passed under yellow and had to drop a spot, while Escrig gave up entirely on Lap Ten. Salač’s bike started twerking at Turn One, forcing him to park it before things got weird.
Moreira cruised to victory with a lead wide enough to fit Lombok’s volcano inside it. González came home second, Guevara third, and Binder put in a solid twelfth. Canet deserves a nod too—starting way back in 23rd and finishing just shy of the podium.
South Africa’s own Darryn Binder had to earn his fried rice the hard way. Starting way back in 23rd, the Italjet Gresini Moto2 rider clawed his way up to a gritty 12th by the flag. The early laps were a struggle, but once he found his rhythm, and the tyre settled in, he started carving through the pack like a hot knife through butter. Solid, determined, Binder style graft. Keep it up Dazz!
MotoGP
Let’s start with the mystery of Gigi’s band-aided nose. Officially, he dove into a shallow pool. Unofficially, someone probably said “Ducatis are overrated,” and he disagreed, with his face.
No Martín (shattered collarbone) and no Ogura (hand ouchy) this round.
Sprint Race
Marc Márquez booted Rins wide at Turn Ten on Lap One and got a Long Lap for his troubles. Chantra fell over immediately after, while Bastianini continued his crash streak at Turn Sixteen.
Acosta performed an impressive front row cartwheel at Turn One, hanging onto his KTM like a baby monkey before trundling back to the pits. Bagnaia, meanwhile, appeared to have forgotten how to start a race, dead last again.
Zarco chucked his Honda into the gravel like a Beyblade gone rogue, and by the final lap, Bezzecchi had reeled in Aldeguer. The two swapped passes until Bezzecchi nabbed victory, Aldeguer took second, and Raúl Fernández claimed his first MotoGP podium in third. Binder finished eleventh.
Aldeguer summed it up perfectly: “…es not funny.”
Main Race
Viñales skipped the main event to recover, which was wise, because chaos soon ensued.
On Lap One, Bezzecchi arrived at Turn Seven like a missile and ploughed straight into Marc Márquez’s Ducati. Sparks, gravel, and drama everywhere. Marc briefly turned gravel skier before hitting a wall that was, unfortunately, not made of water. Both walked away, eventually, but Marc’s shoulder came out looking like confetti.
Mir also went butt surfing off the track on Lap Two, while Bagnaia’s Ducati decided to commit career suicide on Lap Eight. Pecco sat in the gravel clapping sarcastically at his life choices. Bastianini retired soon after, leaving anyone still upright guaranteed points.
Miller even squeezed in a mid race nap, but the hot tarmac reminded him quickly why that was a bad idea.
At the front, Aldeguer disappeared into the sunset, winning by a margin so big it might’ve required its own time zone. The 20 year old became the second youngest MotoGP race winner ever and the first rookie to do so since Martín in 2021.
Acosta grabbed second, Álex Márquez third, securing his title as Best Independent Rider of 2025. Binder fought hard for fourth off the fifth row of the grid in a fifteenth position start, all the way to just shy of the podium.
MotoE
No Toasters in Indonesia this time, MotoE took the weekend off.
With four rounds left and only one title still undecided, next stop is Phillip Island. Bring sunscreen, caffeine, and maybe a few spare shoulders.
