Ducati is heading into this weekend’s Indonesian Grand Prix with realistic expectations, with team manager Davide Tardozzi admitting that losing 10 to 12 points to championship rival Jorge Martín would not necessarily be a bad result for Marc Márquez.
Márquez arrives at Mandalika just two points behind Martín after a perfect Japanese Grand Prix weekend. The Ducati rider claimed victory in both the sprint and main race at Motegi, cutting Martín’s championship lead from 12 points to just two.
However, Ducati expects the competitive picture to change in Indonesia.
“Mandalika doesn't suit our bike properly,” Tardozzi said after the Japanese GP, acknowledging that the GP26 could struggle more than it did at Motegi. Aprilia, in particular, is expected to be a stronger package at the flowing Indonesian circuit.
Asked what Ducati would consider a satisfactory result, Tardozzi gave a surprisingly straightforward answer.
“I think that losing 10, 12 points could be considered not bad.”
The Ducati boss was quick to stress that the team is not travelling to Indonesia simply to limit its losses.
“We can consider that 10, 12 points could be a normal loss in Mandalika, but we go there to win,” he added.
Márquez also faces a personal challenge at the circuit. He has never finished a MotoGP Grand Prix at Mandalika, with each of his previous visits ending in disappointment.
His 2022 weekend was cut short after a heavy warm-up crash, while another crash ended his 2023 race. Last year, Márquez was involved in a first-lap incident with Marco Bezzecchi that resulted in a shoulder injury and ultimately ended his season early.
Source: AutoHebdo
Ducati's recent record at Mandalika offers some encouragement. Ducati machinery has won the last three editions, with Francesco Bagnaia taking victory in 2023, Martín winning for Pramac in 2024 and Fermín Aldeguer triumphing for Gresini last year.
Still, Márquez's individual record at the circuit remains a concern, while Martín returns to a venue where he has already won and now arrives as the championship leader with factory Aprilia.
Tardozzi nevertheless remains confident that Márquez can extract a strong result even if the Ducati is not at its best.
The team manager praised the Spaniard's leadership within the garage, particularly his ability to communicate technical problems while keeping the team focused on the bike's strengths.
For Ducati, that approach could prove crucial this weekend. Márquez does not necessarily need to beat Martín at every round, especially with the championship still finely balanced and several races remaining.
A difficult weekend in Indonesia could therefore become a matter of limiting the damage before the title fight moves on to circuits that may offer Márquez and Ducati a better opportunity.
The Indonesian Grand Prix takes place at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit from October 9 to 11, with the sprint scheduled for Saturday and the main race on Sunday.
