Mission: scoring points at the triple opener in Indonesia
After the first two exciting overseas races in India and Japan, the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team only had a short break with the Indonesian Grand Prix following up from the 13th - 15th of October 2023, where they will be aiming for more important world championship points on the sprint to the approaching season finale in November.
The picturesque Mandalika Street Circuit on the Indonesian island of Lombok, the neighbouring island of tourist hotspot Bali, hosted its first MotoGP round last year, so the 4.301km circuit, which features eleven right-hand and six left-hand corners, will provide plenty of new information this year too. After all, three of the German racing team's four riders still have no experience to fall back on in their respective classes. Plus, the entire track was resurfaced at the beginning of 2023.
In Moto3, only Ayumu Sasaki can draw on comparative values, but the Japanese rider is hoping to finally climb the top step of the podium after last year's crash and another second place a fortnight ago in Japan. In total, the 23-year-old has already scored twelve times this season and is just six points behind current World Championship leader Jaume Masia with six races to go. Team-mate Collin Veijer wants to at least make it back into the top 10 after eleventh place in Japan, not only to further establish himself as one of the best class rookies thsi season, but also to have his team-mate's back when the opportunity arises.
The medical check of Lukas Tulovic on Thursday will decide whether the Moto2 squad will be able to compete with a full line-up again. The German, who broke his left collarbone and metatarsal in the Indian Grand Prix, feels fit and ready to fight his way back into World Championship action off the coast of the Indian Ocean. For the 23-year-old it is the first visit to the race track on Lombok. Team-mate Darryn Binder has never ridden around the Mandalika Street Circuit on a Kalex, but hopes to follow up last year's MotoGP top 10 result with an equally successful result in Moto2 in the 22-lap race on Sunday starting at 07:15 (CEST).
For the fans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, it's time to get up early again this weekend, because with a time difference of six hours to Central Europe, breakfast should be served in front of the TV so as not to miss a second of the expected racing action.
Schedule (CEST)
Friday, 13th of October
03:00 – 03:35 Moto3 Practice 1
03:50 – 04:30 Moto2 Practice 1
04:45 – 05:30 MotoGP Practice 1
07:15 – 07:50 Moto3 Practice 2
08:05 – 08:45 Moto2 Practice 2
09:00 – 10:00 MotoGP Practice
Saturday, 14th of October
02:40 – 03:10 Moto3 Practice 3
03:25 – 03:55 Moto2 Practice 3
04:10 – 04:40 MotoGP Free Practice 2
04:50 – 04:05 MotoGP Qualifying 1
05:15 – 05:30 MotoGP Qualifying 2
06:50 – 07:05 Moto3 Qualifying 1
07:15 – 07:30 Moto3 Qualifying 2
07:45 – 08:00 Moto2 Qualifying 1
08:10 – 08:25 Moto2 Qualifying 2
09:00 MotoGP-Sprint (13 Laps)
Sunday, 15th of October
04:40 – 04:50 MotoGP Warm-Up
06:00 Moto3-Race (20 Laps)
07:15 Moto2-Race (22 Laps)
09:00 MotoGP-Race (27 Laps)