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Marco Bezzecchi tops qualifying at Grand Prix Indonesia, Maverick Vinales withdraws due to shoulder problem
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Published 04/10/2025 at 08:38 GMT+1
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A shoulder problem dating back to Grand Prix Germany is yet to properly resolve itself for KTM Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales, and as a result the Spaniard will not take part in the rest of the weekend's racing at Grand Prix Indonesia. He finished bottom in a qualifying session which was topped by Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi. New world champion Marc Marquez is in ninth spot.
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Maverick Vinales will miss the Indonesia MotoGP after struggling in a qualifying session topped by Marco Bezzecchi.
KTM Tech3 confirmed that the Spaniard would be absent for the rest of the weekend after finishing as the slowest of the bottom 10 riders in Q1 in Mandalika, 0.333 seconds behind his closest rival, Somkiat Chantra.
Following the session, Vinales' team released a statement on social media explaining the decision.
They wrote: "Maverick Vinales will withdraw from the Indonesian Grand Prix.
"It has been decided with the team that Maverick will focus on his left shoulder recovery."
Vinales had already been considering a withdrawal after Friday’s practice sessions, given he was still suffering from pain in his left shoulder, which he dislocated and fractured in qualifying at July’s Grand Prix Germany.
On Friday, the 30-year-old said: "We will talk with the team [about] what is the best to do, if to stop and come back when I’m fully fit or to keep going like this.
"But I think keep going like this is very hard for me because I have pain, and I’m losing a lot of feedback from the bike.Â
"So, we must be very smart and see what is the best way to recover fast."
Aprilia rider Jorge Martin had already withdrawn after suffering a displaced fractured right collarbone, which will also see him miss the next round at Australia, with further involvement this season yet to be confirmed by the rider or his team.
Aprilia's other senior rider, Bezzecchi, set a track record with his time of 1:28.832 seconds, almost 0.4 seconds quicker than BK8 Gresini's Fermin Aldeguer in second. Trackhouse's Raul Fernandez took the last spot on the front row.
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Bezzecchi had already been tipped for success this weekend by TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson in his weekend column, and he suggested the Spaniard is the rider best placed to challenge for the title next season against Ducati Lenovo’s twin talents.
Gresini rider Alex Marquez was seventh quickest in Indonesia, and new champion and brother Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) finished in ninth spot.Â
He was not the only Ducati Lenovo rider to struggle, as Francesco Bagnaia failed to get out of Q1 and will start in 16th place on the grid at both races this weekend. There had been optimism that a new bike setup for Bagnaia would help him continue his form from last weekend when he won the double at Grand Prix Japan, but he has so far been unable to recreate that dominant speed in Indonesia.
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