Miguel Oliveira, MotoGP, Indonesian MotoGP, 18 March 2022 // Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203180136 // Usage for editorial use only //
Miguel Oliveira mastered the sodden conditions at the Mandalika International Circuit to win the Indonesian Grand Prix by just over two seconds ahead of Fabio Quartararo.
Oliveira made a rapid start from seventh on the grid to move up to second as the field swam into Turn 1, the KTM racer taking advantage of a poor exit from the last corner for leader Quartararo to lead the way at the end of the opening tour.
His time at the front wouldn’t last long though as Jack Miller swept past to take the lead, though Oliveira remained firmly imprinted onto the rear of the Aussie’s Ducati.
Oliveira managed to click up a gear several laps later as he passed Miller to re-take the initiative once again, this time quickly getting into his stride as he crafted a gap to the Desmosedici.
He was never headed after this point as he built a lead as large as five seconds at one point before rolling off towards the closing stages to manage his gap, eventually taking the chequered flag 2.2 seconds clear of a chasing Quartararo.
The reigning MotoGP world champion looked to be struggling once again in wet conditions early on as he slipped to fifth, though he eventually levelled out and started to range back in on the riders ahead as the race reached its climactic moments.
He first found a way past Alex Rins’ Suzuki for fourth before catching the battle for second between Miller and Pramac’s Johann Zarco, Quartararo making short work of the duo before looking ahead at Oliveira.
Despite posting the fastest lap of the contest just a few tours from home Quartararo came up short but still bagged a strong runners-up result in conditions his M1 usual detests, while Zarco ended up completed the rostrum finishers after deposing Miller towards the end.
Rins was fifth ahead of Joan Mir, who recovered well after starting 17th after struggling all weekend in the dry conditions, with the other factory Yamaha of Franco Morbidelli taking seventh.
Brad Binder managed to come out on top of a titanic battle for the position between no less than seven pilots, the KTM man heading home Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and brother Darryn Binder, who put in a starring performance to score his debut top ten result in only his second premier class start for the RNF Yamaha squad.
Pol Espargaro’s weekend got barely any better as he ended up 12th as the highest classified Honda, while Francesco Bagnaia’s tough opening phase of the 2022 MotoGP season continued as he came home 15th for just a solitary point.
Jorge Martin was the race’s only retirement after losing the front of his Ducati on entry to Turn 1 after crossing over some standing water having just relieved Morbidelli of seventh, while Marc Marquez failed to take the start after being ruled unfit for the race with concussion following a scary high-side in morning warm-up.
Keyword: Oliveira defeats Quartararo to win rain-delayed Indonesian GP