MotoGP: Jorge Martin wins in Indonesia to extend lead in title race

Spain’s Jorge Martin stretched his lead in the MotoGP standings to 21 points by winning Sunday’s Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika.

The Pramac Racing rider crashed at the circuit last season to give up his overall lead to Italy’s Francesco Bagnaia, who went on to win the title.

Martin, 26, admitted he was haunted by the “ghosts” of his 2023 campaign after crashing in Saturday’s sprint race while leading.

That again opened the door for Ducati rider Bagnaia, who won the sprint race to close the gap to 12 points in this season’s title race. But the reigning champion had a poor start in Sunday’s race before eventually recovering to claim third.

Martin, meanwhile, led from start to finish, converting his pole position into a third win of the season.

“This is not just any victory because I think after all that happened last season, after yesterday’s crash, to perform this way was quite difficult,” said Martin, who remains in a strong position to win his first title with five races of the season remaining.

“I thought about crashing every corner. Being able to find that feeling during the race and to win with this gap was incredible.”

Martin was pushed all the way by fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta, who finished second on the Red Bull KTM.

The race for the minor places was punctuated by a succession of crashes in hot and humid conditions.

There was a yellow flag on the opening lap after Australia’s Jack Miller locked up and slipped off the track, also taking out Italian Luca Marini and Spanish riders Aleix Espargaro and Alex Marquez.

Six-time champion Marc Marquez suffered mechanical problems and had to leap off his flaming Gresini bike midway through the race, while Italian Enea Bastianini’s faint title hopes were all but dashed when he crashed out late in the race, while in fifth place.