Mandalika MotoGP 2026 Schedule: Sprint Race Set for This Afternoon
MANDALIKA, INDONESIA — The prestigious premier class motor racing event, MotoGP, has officially returned to the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Fans across the globe and thousands present at the coastal circuit are gearing up for an action-packed weekend, highlighted by the Sprint Race taking place this afternoon.
The race weekend opened on Friday (October 9) with the free practice sessions, where VR46 Racing Team rider Marco Bezzecchi set the pace and dominated the timing sheets. Track action continues today, Saturday (October 10), featuring the critical qualifying sessions and the afternoon Sprint Race, before culminating in the main Grand Prix race on Sunday (October 11).
Reflecting on last season's Grand Prix in Lombok, Fermin Aldeguer delivered a memorable performance to secure victory, holding off fierce challenges from Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez. Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi showcased his tactical prowess by winning the Mandalika Sprint Race ahead of Aldeguer and Raul Fernandez.
The 2026 MotoGP season has proven to be exceptionally unpredictable, with winner trophies distributed among multiple contenders, including Marc Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Jorge Martin, Alex Marquez, and Ai Ogura.
For eight-time world champion Marc Marquez, the Mandalika circuit continues to present a notorious challenge. Since the venue's inauguration, the Spaniard has struggled with misfortunes and has yet to cross the finish line in a main race at the seaside layout. Racing enthusiasts are closely watching to see whether "The Baby Alien" can finally shatter his Mandalika curse or suffer another premature exit.
Heading into the Indonesian Grand Prix round, the World Championship battle remains intensely tight. With multiple race winners throughout the 2026 campaign, every single point scored in the Saturday Sprint Race carries massive weight for title contenders trying to establish momentum before the final leg of the Asian flyaway races.
Spanning 4.31 kilometers with 17 turns, the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit presents a unique set of technical demands. Its close proximity to the Indian Ocean exposes the track to high ambient and asphalt temperatures, high humidity, and coastal sea breezes carrying sand particles. Tyre management, particularly front-tyre wear under extreme heat, is expected to play a decisive role in Sunday's 27-lap main race.
MANDALIKA MOTOGP 2026 SCHEDULE (WIB)
Saturday, October 10, 2026
07:40 - 08:10 WIB: Moto3 Free Practice 2
08:25 - 08:55 WIB: Moto2 Free Practice 2
09:10 - 09:40 WIB: MotoGP Free Practice 2
09:50 - 10:05 WIB: MotoGP Qualifying 1 (Q1)
10:15 - 10:30 WIB: MotoGP Qualifying 2 (Q2)
11:45 - 12:00 WIB: Moto3 Qualifying 1 (Q1)
12:10 - 12:25 WIB: Moto3 Qualifying 2 (Q2)
12:40 - 12:55 WIB: Moto2 Qualifying 1 (Q1)
13:05 - 13:20 WIB: Moto2 Qualifying 2 (Q2)
14:00 WIB: MotoGP Sprint Race (13 Laps)
Sunday, October 11, 2026
09:40 - 09:50 WIB: MotoGP Warm Up
11:00 WIB: Moto3 Main Race (20 Laps)
12:15 WIB: Moto2 Main Race (22 Laps)
14:00 WIB: MotoGP Main Race (27 Laps)
