Qualifying
Moto2 2025
Round 18
Unlucky Saturday for IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia in Mandalika
Pertamina Mandalika International CircuitIt was a tough and unfortunate qualifying day for IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia in Mandalika.
Mario Aji showed promising pace throughout the weekend, but an early crash in Q1 ended his chances of advancing to Q2. Before the incident, the Indonesian rider was sitting in 7th position and close to the cutoff for Q2. Despite the disappointment, Aji escaped uninjured and will start tomorrow’s home race from 25th on the grid. Earlier in the day, he completed the entire Free Practice 2 session without stopping, focusing on finding consistency and endurance for race conditions.
Yuki Kunii, on the other hand, continued to make small steps forward but faced difficulties in the final sector of the track. He finished the Q1 session in 12th position and will start from 26th on the grid. Although today’s results were below expectations, both riders remain determined to turn things around on race day. The focus now is on delivering a solid performance in front of the passionate Indonesian crowd and fighting for the best possible result in tomorrow’s demanding conditions.
Hiroshi Aoyama
⠀ ⠀ ⠀
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Today’s qualifying was held under cooler conditions than yesterday, and both riders improved their feeling with the bike. Unfortunately, Mario had a crash very early in Q1, just as he was close to securing a position to move into Q2. Luckily, he is okay, but that incident prevented him from showing his true potential. His performance before the crash was strong, and with a good start tomorrow, he can recover positions.For Yuki, he showed some positive improvements, especially in the first and middle parts of the track, but he lost a lot of time in Sector 4. We will focus on fixing this area for tomorrow. Both riders will start from P25 and P26, so the goal is to stay calm, make a good start, and recover as many positions as possible during the race.
Today’s qualifying was held under cooler conditions than yesterday, and both riders improved their feeling with the bike. Unfortunately, Mario had a crash very early in Q1, just as he was close to securing a position to move into Q2. Luckily, he is okay, but that incident prevented him from showing his true potential. His performance before the crash was strong, and with a good start tomorrow, he can recover positions.For Yuki, he showed some positive improvements, especially in the first and middle parts of the track, but he lost a lot of time in Sector 4. We will focus on fixing this area for tomorrow. Both riders will start from P25 and P26, so the goal is to stay calm, make a good start, and recover as many positions as possible during the race.
Mario Aji
64
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Until the crash, it was actually a good day. My feeling with the bike was really positive, and I felt confident that I could make another step forward in qualifying. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake in Turn 1 — I lost the front and crashed. It’s a pity because I knew I could have improved more, but that’s part of racing. The most important thing is that I’m okay physically.Now it’s time to focus on tomorrow’s race. It’s my home Grand Prix, and I want to give my best for all the fans who came here to support me. I’ll keep believing in our potential and push to recover as many positions as possible. Thanks to the team for their hard work — I’ll fight hard to make them proud tomorrow.
Until the crash, it was actually a good day. My feeling with the bike was really positive, and I felt confident that I could make another step forward in qualifying. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake in Turn 1 — I lost the front and crashed. It’s a pity because I knew I could have improved more, but that’s part of racing. The most important thing is that I’m okay physically.Now it’s time to focus on tomorrow’s race. It’s my home Grand Prix, and I want to give my best for all the fans who came here to support me. I’ll keep believing in our potential and push to recover as many positions as possible. Thanks to the team for their hard work — I’ll fight hard to make them proud tomorrow.
Yuki Kunii
92
IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia Today was not an easy day for us. In the morning, the feeling was a bit better, and I managed to improve my pace, but in qualifying I struggled, especially in the last sector. Up to that point, my lap was quite competitive, but I lost time before crossing the finish line. We’ll work on that area to improve for tomorrow.Even if the result is not what I wanted, I’ll stay positive and focused. The race will be long and tough in these hot conditions, so it’s important to stay consistent and manage the tyres well. I’m happy to be racing again in front of the Indonesian fans; their support gives me motivation to push until the very end.
Today was not an easy day for us. In the morning, the feeling was a bit better, and I managed to improve my pace, but in qualifying I struggled, especially in the last sector. Up to that point, my lap was quite competitive, but I lost time before crossing the finish line. We’ll work on that area to improve for tomorrow.Even if the result is not what I wanted, I’ll stay positive and focused. The race will be long and tough in these hot conditions, so it’s important to stay consistent and manage the tyres well. I’m happy to be racing again in front of the Indonesian fans; their support gives me motivation to push until the very end.
