Ducati: Marc Marquez Has One More Concern Ahead of the Race in Indonesia

He’s in thrilling form right now; his championship comeback is nearly complete, and he’s just two points behind Jorge Martin at the top of the standings. Yet, Marc Marquez’s march toward the season finale is about to face one of the toughest psychological hurdles on the calendar: the Mandalika circuit.

While recent positive results have given Ducati a Marquez brimming with confidence, the Indonesian round carries with it a veritable personal curse. The Spanish rider’s record on the Indonesian track is, in fact, devoid of positive results, with four starts and zero checkered flags seen at the finish line.

It all began in 2022, when a horrific crash during the warm-up left him with a concussion severe enough to prevent him from starting Sunday’s race. The following year, in 2023, another crash in the early stages of the race dashed all hopes.

Not even his move to Ducati in 2024 was enough to break the spell, as an engine failure forced him to retire amid flames. Finally, in 2025, a close encounter with Marco Bezzecchi caused the crash that knocked him out of contention while he was battling for the lead.

To win a world title, however, one must also overcome the ghosts of the past, and the champion from Cervera knows this well. While his record at Mandalika stands at four zeros out of four, Márquez can cling to a famous Spanish proverb: “no hay quinto malo” (there’s no such thing as a bad fifth time)—a traditional saying meant to convey that the fifth opportunity always brings redemption and a positive turning point.

The race in Indonesia will therefore not only be a matter of points in the fiercely contested battle with Martin, but a true test of strength to dispel this taboo once and for all.