The MotoGP race weekend at the Mandalika circuit was immediately met with safety concerns after Fabio Quartararo urged organizers to take immediate action on the track's gravel traps following a scary practice crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix.
The incident occurred when the Yamaha rider tumbled through Turn 8, part of the circuit's fast Esses section, sending him into a violent sequence of rolls upon hitting the gravel trap, which sits unevenly with the asphalt runoff area at that specific part of the track.
The crash drew immediate parallels to Marc Marquez's heavy tumble through the neighboring Turn 7 during the previous year's event, an accident that left the multi-time champion injured and sidelined for the final four rounds of that season, highlighting ongoing concerns.
Although Quartararo escaped major injury and managed to rejoin the session, ultimately securing a direct Q2 berth with the seventh-fastest time, he remained adamant that modifications are necessary. 'I'm a bit sore on the left side - the crash was fast but it was not a big one, just entering the gravel was the worst part,' Quartararo stated.
Elaborating on the specific technical issue, the Frenchman pointed out the height discrepancy between the run-off and the gravel bed. 'I think we need to put at least in the same height as the Tarmac, because I think it’s a bit higher, so when you arrive you just bump in the air - so I think it's too high,' he explained to reporters.
Weighing in on the safety debate, Marquez agreed that reassessing the gravel traps would be a diligent move for MotoGP management, citing both rider welfare and the soaring financial costs of bike repairs as vital reasons for a thorough review.
'Honestly speaking, I'm fighting for a championship and I didn't check how was the gravel,' Marquez said. 'We always complain. It's true that it's not good for the safety of the riders, it's not good even for the bikes. Because they are always trying to adjust the budget but the best way to save budget is to try to save the riders and the bikes from this kind of crashes.'
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