Acosta Shines, Binder Battles to Fourth at Indonesian MotoGP; Rueda Clinches Moto3 Title
The Indonesian MotoGP at the Mandalika International Circuit saw impressive performances from KTM riders, with Pedro Acosta securing his third podium of 2025 with a hard-fought second place and Brad Binder achieving his best result of the season with a fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, Jose Antonio Rueda secured the 2025 Moto3 World Championship for Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Acosta Equals Best MotoGP Finish
Pedro Acosta delivered a stellar performance, starting from fifth on the grid and quickly moving into the lead. He battled with Fermin Aldeguer before managing his pace and ultimately seizing second place. This marks Acosta's second consecutive podium at Mandalika and elevates him to fifth in the championship standings. "We have to be happy! We made exactly what we planned: a good start and to be 1st or close to 1st in the initial part of the race," said Acosta. "I think I am becoming a better rider, more mature and making better races."
Binder Charges Through the Pack
Brad Binder showcased remarkable determination, climbing from 15th on the grid to finish fourth. This result is his highest classification of 2025. Binder attributed his improved performance to a significant change made during warm-up, which enhanced his confidence with the front-end of his bike. "We made quite a big change in warm-up and straightaway I felt more confident with the front-end," Binder explained. "Happy to come through the field and better my starting position by a long way."
Rueda Claims Moto3 World Championship
Jose Antonio Rueda of Red Bull KTM Ajo clinched the 2025 Moto3 World Championship. The Moto3 race took place under the intense heat and sunshine, witnessed by 67,900 spectators at the 4.3km Mandalika International Circuit. Rueda's victory marks another championship for the team.
Bastianini Retires, Vinales Absent
The race wasn't without its setbacks. Enea Bastianini was forced to retire due to a technical issue. "A tough weekend for me," said Bastianini. "Yesterday the guys worked a lot to give me the best bike for today but in the end something happened." Maverick Viñales elected to not race at Mandalika to continue his recovery from left shoulder surgery.
Team Manager's Perspective
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance. "A great day for us after what had been a challenging weekend in Mandalika," said Ajo. "For sure we need to be really happy about today’s results and after the Sprint the expectations were quite high for the longer race today."
| Rider | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Fermin Aldeguer | Ducati | 1st |
| Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 2nd |
| Alex Marquez | Ducati | 3rd |
| Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 4th |
| Enea Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | DNF |
Looking Ahead to Phillip Island
Following the races in Japan and Indonesia, the MotoGP season will now take a brief pause before resuming at Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix in two weeks. Binder acknowledged the unique conditions at Mandalika, stating, "I think it’s a special place for sure, but I really hope that this is changing point for me." He also cautioned that Phillip Island presents a different challenge: "The track there is super-fast, super flowing."
