MotoGP™ recap: Indonesia - the rain ritual

After 25 years, MotoGP™ was back in Indonesia! Motorcycle mania swept across the island nation for a few short days in March, with the locals making it a simply unforgettable visit. From parading through the streets of Jakarta to riders greeting fans up close and personal, it was a jam-packed visit and we already cannot wait to return next season.

• REWIND: CHAPTER 2 - THE RAIN RITUAL

• KTM CELEBRATES OLIVEIRA'S MANDALIKA MASTERCLASS

• OTHER BATTLES FROM THE GRAND PRIX OF INDONESIA

On the track, things took a while to get going ahead of the premier class race due to rain-enforced delays, but there was still plenty of entertainment to be found while we waited for lights out, namely the visit of a shaman in a bid to speed up proceedings. Eventually, we were racing, and it was Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who took the win in emphatic fashion, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) enjoying podium success for the first time in 2022.

Coming from seventh on the grid, Oliveira rocketed off the line to put himself up into the top three before pulling the pin and running away with it out front to claim a fourth premier class win. The Portuguese rider did brilliantly to stay upright given the conditions, thriving where others failed to continue KTM’s excellent start to the season.

• TROUBLE IN PARADISE: MotoGP™'S WET WEATHER WONDER SAVES

• MARC MARQUEZ WALKS AWAY FROM HUGE TURN 7 HIGHSIDE

• MotoGP™ MANIA HITS THE STREETS OF JAKARTA

Having gotten off to a flyer in Qatar, Honda’s mood shifted on Sunday morning when their star man Marc Marquez was sent flying from his RC213V during warm up in a major highside that saw the eight-time World Champion ruled out of the next Grand Prix. It was a tough outing for the Japanese marque, with none of their riders cracking the top 10 as they came crashing back down to earth after their opening night joy.