The Sad Story Behind The Spread Of The Indonesian Flag During The United States Moto2 Podium

Pertamina Mandalika racer, Bo Bendsneyder. (Photo: Instagram/@bobendsneyder)

JAKARTA - Pertamina Mandalika racer Bo Bendsneyder managed to reach the third podium when he appeared in Moto2 in the United States on Sunday, April 16. In his winning moment, Bendsneyder was seen carrying the Indonesian flag on the podium.

The acquisition of this podium is the first time for Bendsneyder in Moto2. Starting in fourth place, he managed to finish racing in third place after Pedro Acosta and Tony Arbolino.

Successfully securing the top three positions, this Dutch racer had the opportunity to climb the podium. It was at this moment that an unusual sight occurred, Bendsneyder was seen carrying the red and white emblem of Indonesia and occasionally tried to unfurl it on the American Moto2 podium.

🥉 @bobendsneyder makes it to the history books! A Dutch rider is back on the intermediate class podium after Wilco Zeelenberg at Assen in 1994 🇳🇱#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pm6mCCnqnR

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 16, 2023

However, there is a sad story behind it.

Bendsneyder is known to carry a red and white flag as a form of respect for his grandfather who died two days before the race took place. The grandfather is a native of Surabaya, Indonesia.

Not only that, Bendsneyder also showed this attitude as a form of grief over the passing of the President of the Pertamina Mandalika Team, Rapsel Ali, last week.

In honor of his grandfather and sponsor boss who came from Indonesia, Bendsneyder finally deliberately brought a red and white flag when he got on the podium.

Bendsneyder's success in finishing third in Moto2 America 2023 is also the highest achievement for the Pertamina Mandalika team.

This is because it is Pertamina Mandalika's first podium in Moto2 since participating in the 2021 season. This result also makes Bendsneyder now collect 16 points from three races and ranks 12th in the Moto2 2023 standings.