2023 Mandalika MotoGP Qualification Results: Luca Marini Gets Pole Position

JAKARTA – Mooney VR46 racer Luca Marini took pole position for the Mandalika Grand Prix. This is the first pole in the career of the Italian racer.

Marini was the best in qualifying with a time of 1 minute 29.978 seconds at the Mandalika International Circuit, Saturday, October 14, 2023.

This time put him narrowly ahead of the Aprilia Racing duo Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro. The two of them were respectively 0.031 seconds and 0.154 seconds away from the race leader.

Marini's success makes him the seventh different MotoGP racer to have pole sitter status this season.

Marini's success contrasts with the three drivers challenging for the title this season, namely Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi. The three of them will not start the race from the front row of the grid.

Bagnaia, who currently controls the top of the standings, will actually start the race on Sunday from 13th position. The situation that puts his position at the top of the standings could be threatened.

Meanwhile, Jorge Martin will start the race from sixth position. He is followed by Bezzecchi who will race from ninth position.

Qualification results for the 2023 Mandalika MotoGP

Luca Marini 1:29.978

Maverick Vinales +0.031

Aleix Espargaro +0.154

Fabio Quartararo +0.538

Brad Binder +0.720

Jorge Martin +0.764

Fabio Di Giannantonio +0.788

Marc Marquez +0.886

Marco Bezzecchi +0.930

Jack Miller +0.992