The Indonesian Grand Prix at the Sirkuit Mandalika has historically proven to be a major stumbling block for Marc Marquez, who across four years of the event has never successfully completed a Sunday main race. A string of misfortune has continuously plagued the Spaniard in Lombok, highlighted most dramatically by last season's severe crash when he was struck by Marco Bezzecchi, an incident that resulted in heavy injuries and prematurely ended his championship campaign.
However, the dynamic heading into this weekend's crucial round is entirely different. The Ducati Lenovo star arrives on a strong momentum wave, having secured four double victories encompassing both the sprint and main races across the last six rounds. Speaking during the official pre-event press conference alongside championship leader Jorge Martin and third-placed Marco Bezzecchi, the veteran rider emphasized that his current mindset and physical baseline contrast sharply with previous outings.
"I arrive here in a very different condition compared to last year. I am just focused and trying to start well here. We want to work to the maximum in the garage and give our all. Last year, my performance kept improving as the race weekend went on. That is the target for this year too," Marc Marquez stated in front of the assembled international media.
Trailing championship leader Jorge Martin by a mere two points in the standings, the nine-time world champion made it clear that he refuses to adopt a conservative approach. Feeling increasingly harmonious with the handling characteristics of his current machinery, he intends to apply immediate pressure from the opening practice sessions while remaining wary of rival manufacturers.
"As I said in Motegi, I will try to attack at every circuit. That is also my target here. I feel more comfortable with the bike right now. We will see what can be achieved. However, it is clear that the characteristics of this track are more suited to the Aprilia bike. We will try to stay close and shadow them," explained the rider, who traveled to Mandalika accompanied by his partner Gemma Pinto and his father Julia Marquez.
Aside from addressing the intense championship battle, Marc Marquez also offered a critical perspective regarding the recent announcement by MotoGP officials detailing a revamped weekend format slated for introduction under the 2027 technical regulations. The updated schedule introduces a dedicated qualifying session for the sprint race on Friday alongside a slight reduction in total track time for premier class competitors.
Addressing the newly structured timeline, the veteran expressed reservations regarding the limited influence riders hold in major institutional decisions. He pointed out that intensifying an already overcrowded calendar will drastically raise physical demands, despite competitors ultimately lacking the authority to alter executive rulings.
"We must understand the main goal behind this change. For the riders, this adjustment means higher intensity and the demands will be heavier. The current schedule is actually already quite busy. But we are not the ones making the decisions. The situation is like this and we have to adapt," concluded the older brother of Alex Marquez.
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