Aprilia remain in control at the top of the MotoGP championship after the Indonesian Grand Prix, but Nil Hodgson thinks they missed the chance to pull away.
The Noale outfit were clearly the strongest factory in Mandalika, which they proved on Sunday with a 1-2-3-4 finish, the first in their history.
Marco Bezzecchi beat Raul Fernandez for his fifth win of the 2026 season. Jorge Martin finished third and keeps his lead in the championship, but he did not extend his advantage over Marc Marquez.
Neil Hodgson says Aprilia gifted Marc Marquez with his Sprint win in Indonesia
Marquez won the Sprint race after Bezzecchi and Fernandez collided at the first corner on the opening lap. It gave the Ducati rider the championship lead as Martin finished off the podium.
Martin regained the advantage on Sunday, but his lead over Marquez has stayed at two points. The Ant of Cervera could only manage sixth at the Indonesian Grand Prix, as he looked uncomfortable on the GP26.
It was damage limitation for the Spaniard as he finished his first Grand Prix in Mandalika since the circuit returned to the calendar in 2022. Marquez had worried about injury before the race, and no one expected him to be competitive with the Aprilias.
However, with his Sprint victory, Hodgson believes that Marquez was handed a ‘gift’ by Aprilia, as Martin was unable to extend his lead in the championship.
He said via TNT Sports: “We’re back [to the] status quo, two points in the championship. He’ll be happy. This has been a proper weekend for Ducati. They did not expect the gift of yesterday, to win the Sprint, and Martin not be dominant this weekend.
“Martin could have easily done the double, and Marc Marquez could have easily had a pair of sixth place finishes. The championship continues, it’s hard to call.”
Heading into the next round at Phillip Island, Aprilia will again be expected to lead from the front. Martin has a great chance to gain more points on Marquez.
But the Ducati rider has done well in Australia before, and he will fancy his chances of regaining the lead over his fierce rivals.
Source: MGP