Fortunately for Quartararo, the other favourites, the Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda) and the Italian Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati), did not make an impression either with respectively a 5th place and a retirement.

Winner of his first Grand Prix, it is the 24-year-old Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati-Gresini) who leads by surprise this marathon season of 21 Grands Prix, a record.

After the Losail circuit in Qatar, head for the paradise island of Lombok which is home to the new Mandalika circuit.

It is an understatement to say that Indonesia was impatiently waiting for this: on Wednesday, the pilots paraded with their machines in the streets of the capital Jakarta and were received by President Joko Widodo, a motorcycle fan who had himself inaugurated the route in November.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo gives the start of a parade of MotoGP riders in the streets of Jakarta on March 16, 2022 ahead of the Indonesian GP BAY ISMOYO AFP

The world championship had already come, in 1996 and 1997, when the top class was the 500 cc.

This will be a first since the establishment of MotoGP in 2002 and the arrival of 1000 cc displacements.

"They deserve a GP and they will have a GP!", praised Marquez: "It will be a great event for the country and for MotoGP".

"We hope it will be the first of a long series. We have a long-term agreement to race in Indonesia", for his part enlightened Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, promoter of the championship.

After hosting pre-season testing in February, the asphalt at the Mandalika circuit has been resurfaced to provide more grip, after criticism from drivers who feared for their safety.

Drivers scouting the new Mandalika circuit on March 17, 2022 before the MotoGP of Indonesia scheduled for March 20 BAY ISMOYO AFP

The latter will be able to test the track again on Friday for free practice 1 and 2 (from 3:50 a.m. then 8:05 a.m. in French time, GMT+1).

The serious things will then begin on Saturday with the third practice session and then qualifying for the GP on Sunday.

Will we see Quartararo take his 16th pole in MotoGP, on this 4.3 km circuit?

Nothing is less certain for the Frenchman.

Pessimistic in the off-season on the development of his Yamaha, his doubts were confirmed in Qatar.

"What is frustrating is that I really give my maximum", he regretted then.

"A good circuit" for Ducati

"I expected a lot more at the Qatar GP," he repeated to the press on Thursday.

"But you always learn from your difficult times."

The world champion assures today that he "feels ready for this weekend".

"We have to bounce back and feel our potential on this track".

"Our pace was good here during testing, but many of our rivals were fast, so every detail and split second will count."

If he fights for the win, the 22-year-old Frenchman could reunite with Marquez.

Indonesia is a good memory for Honda, which won with Mick Doohan and Tadayuki Okada at Sentul in 1996 and 1997.

"Qatar was a good start, but we always want more, to be on the podium and try to win," explained the six-time Spanish MotoGP champion.

Italian Francesco Bagnaia on the Losail circuit, scene of the MotoGP of Qatar, March 3, 2022 KARIM JAAFAR AFP / Archives

"Our objective this weekend is to try to improve the result in Qatar, then in Argentina to try to improve the result from here. But step by step, I feel good", assured Thursday Marquez, handicapped these last two seasons by a fracture of the right arm then by problems of double vision.

He admits, however, that he still lacks the "special feeling" necessary to be fast.

"That's what I really miss right now and that's what we're looking for."

Vice-champion 2021, Bagnaia also intends to get back on the podium, he who won four times at the end of 2021.

"I think it's a good circuit for the characteristics of our bike", explained the Ducati rider.

"I will try to work more on my driving style from the first practice sessions to find the right feeling".

Second and third in Qatar, Brad Binder (KTM) and Pol Espargaro (Honda) could, like Bastianini, create another surprise.

On the French side, we are also expecting a jump from Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), 8th at Losail.

© 2022 AFP