IndonesianGP: Hakim Danish receiving Back-of-the-Grid Penalty at Mandalika

Malaysian rider Hakim Danish has been told he will start Sunday’s Moto3 Indonesian Grand Prix from the back of the grid. The FIM MotoGP Stewards found he rode slowly on the racing line during qualifying at the Mandalika Circuit today.

Danish had advanced from Q1 to Q2 and ended the session 18th. The penalty wipes out that grid slot.

The stewards ruled that Danish rode slowly on the racing line at Turns 7, 8 and 9 after setting his personal best lap. His slow pace disrupted the laps of riders #8 O’Shea and #5 Rammerstorfer.

The offence was classified as M3-SR7: Slow on line after posting personal best.

Under the Moto3 penalty protocol, this offence carries a start from the back of the grid. That applies even though Danish earned 18th place the hard way, getting through Q1 and then setting a time in Q2.

Danish has been sanctioned for slow riding in qualifying before. At the Czech Grand Prix in June he took a 12-place grid penalty for riding too slowly in qualifying, one of several riders penalised after repeat offences. He still won from 14th, becoming the first Malaysian to win in the class since Khairul Idham Pawi in 2016.

The penalty adds to a tough stretch for the AEON Credit-MT Helmets-MSi rider. The 19-year-old came to Lombok still recovering from a shoulder injury after three crashes at the Japanese GP, where he finished 13th from 21st on the grid. He is seventh in the 2026 Moto3 World Championship with 105 points. Before the weekend he said he wanted a fresh start at Mandalika, a circuit he first raced at in the Asia Talent Cup

Credit Photo : ZK Racing