Miguel Oliveira, the skilled rider from Portugal, made a notable return to form on Friday. He punched his ticket straight to Q2 at the Indonesian Grand Prix. His impressive ninth-place finish in the second free practice session at the Mandalika circuit made all the difference. Oliveira clocked a blistering 1:29.930 lap time late in the session. This placed him among the group of riders who will fight for pole position early tomorrow morning.
This isn’t just another qualifying spot for Oliveira. It’s his first direct entry into Q2 all season. The Almada native has faced a tough year, with results often falling short of expectations. He’s set to move from MotoGP to the Superbike World Championship in 2026. This strong showing offers a much-needed boost after a season marked by disappointing performances.
Meanwhile, a different story unfolded for World Champion Marc Márquez. The Spanish star will compete in Q1 for the first time this season. It was a day to forget for Márquez, marked by not one, but two crashes in the second practice. His troubles continued when a scorching lap from Fabio Quartararo pushed him out of the crucial top ten late in the session.
Qualifying Brackets Set
The battle for pole position promises excitement. Ten riders have already secured their spots in Q2, avoiding the extra hurdle:
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Fermín Aldeguer
- Pedro Acosta
- Luca Marini
- Raul Fernández
- Joan Mir
- Fabio Quartararo
- Alex Rins
- Miguel Oliveira
- Alex Márquez
However, another ten riders will fight it out in Q1, with only the fastest two advancing:
- Marc Márquez
- Franco Morbidelli
- Brad Binder
- Johann Zarco
- Enea Bastianini
- Jack Miller
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Fabio DiGiannantonio
- Maverick Viñales
- Somkiat Chantra
Race Weekend Schedule
Fans should get ready for an early start to the action. Q1 kicks off at 3:50 AM, followed swiftly by Q2 at 4:15 AM. The much-anticipated sprint race is scheduled for 8:00 AM.