Thirty years ago, Indonesia welcomed Grand Prix motorcycle racing to Sentul. Since then, its place in the sport’s history has been shaped by established champions, an emerging Valentino Rossi and a spectacular return at Mandalika. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Indonesian GP in 2026, there is plenty to look back on, from the roar of the 500cc era to the championship battles of modern MotoGP™.
In the beginning
The story began on 7 April 1996 at Sentul International Circuit, where Mick Doohan won the inaugural Indonesian premier class Grand Prix for Honda. Alex Barros and Loris Capirossi completed the podium, giving the event an opening chapter packed with names that remain familiar to racing fans today. The motorcycles, technology and championship have changed enormously since that afternoon, but the appeal of watching the world’s best riders compete has endured.
A year later, Sentul delivered a much closer finish. Tadayuki Okada beat Honda team-mate Doohan by just 0.069 seconds in the 500cc race, a margin small enough to make even the most relaxed spectator lean towards the television. Max Biaggi won the 250cc contest, while the winner of the smallest class would go on to become one of the biggest names the sport has ever known.
Enter Rossi
Valentino Rossi’s victory in the 1997 Indonesian 125cc Grand Prix came during the season in which he claimed his first World Championship. Racing an Aprilia, the young Italian was already showing the ability that would make him a defining figure in motorcycle racing. Long before the nine world titles and the generations of fans wearing his famous yellow, Sentul had secured its own place in the Rossi story.
That extraordinary career is celebrated through our VR46 collection, featuring images personally signed by Rossi himself. From his first Grand Prix victory at Brno in 1996 to memorable races at Laguna Seca and Catalunya, and his farewell at Valencia in 2021, the collection captures chapters from a career that stretched far beyond those early days at Sentul. Each signature adds a personal connection to the rider behind the memories.
The 21st Century Comeback
Indonesia’s next World Championship Grand Prix would require rather more patience. After the 1997 event, the country waited 25 years for racing to return, with Mandalika on the island of Lombok hosting the comeback in 2022. Miguel Oliveira mastered the wet conditions to win for KTM, ahead of Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco. It was a memorable way to begin a new era, with a new circuit providing a very different setting for Indonesia’s racing story.
By 2023, Mandalika was influencing the title fight in dramatic fashion. Francesco Bagnaia started the Grand Prix from 13th on the grid, while championship rival Jorge Martin appeared to be heading for victory before crashing out of the lead. Bagnaia seized his opportunity, completing a remarkable recovery to win for the Ducati Lenovo Team and reclaim the championship lead. Thirteenth to first is an impressive afternoon’s work at any circuit, particularly with a world title at stake.
Marvellous Martin
For Jorge Martin, the chance to rewrite his Indonesian memories arrived in 2024. After another setback in the Sprint, the Prima Pramac Racing rider responded with a commanding Grand Prix performance, leading all 27 laps from pole position to take victory ahead of Pedro Acosta and Bagnaia. The result extended his championship advantage to 21 points, turning Mandalika from the scene of disappointment into an important milestone in his pursuit of the sport’s biggest prize.
Martin went on to become the 2024 MotoGP™ World Champion, securing the crown with third place at the season finale in Barcelona. His achievement is celebrated by the 2024 Replica FIM MotoGP™ World Championship Trophy Plaque, available from MotoGP™ Authentics. An official replica of the plaque added to the Champions Tower, it commemorates the championship campaign in which that Indonesian victory played its part, giving fans a lasting tribute to a landmark season.
Aldeguer Ascends
Mandalika then added another breakthrough to its growing list in 2025, when Fermín Aldeguer claimed his first MotoGP™ Grand Prix victory for Gresini Racing. The rookie delivered a dominant performance to become the second-youngest winner in MotoGP™ history, with Acosta and Alex Marquez completing the podium. Almost three decades after Rossi’s success at Sentul, Indonesia was once again the setting for a young rider to give the racing world something to remember.
Aldeguer’s success also made it three consecutive Indonesian premier class Grand Prix wins for Ducati machinery. Bagnaia in 2023, Martin in 2024 and Aldeguer in 2025 delivered victories through the factory team, Pramac and Gresini respectively, showing the manufacturer’s strength across different teams. A comeback, a step towards a world title and a maiden victory made for three very different celebrations, all sharing a Ducati connection.
For fans who want to celebrate that racing heritage, our Ducati collection brings together memorabilia including fairing pieces, artwork and replica championship plaques. With collectables celebrating riders such as Bagnaia and Marc Márquez, it offers the opportunity to bring part of Ducati’s wider MotoGP™ story into your own collection, whether you are marking a favourite rider’s achievements or celebrating your allegiance to the Italian manufacturer.
Thirty years after Indonesia’s Grand Prix debut, the anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate both the racing and the riders who have made it memorable. From Sentul’s early stars to Mandalika’s modern milestones, these are moments that deserve more than an occasional replay. Explore our Valentino Rossi, Jorge Martin and Ducati collections at MotoGP™ Authentics now.
