ADVERSE weather conditions caused the start of the MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix to be delayed after a LIGHTNING BOLT struck the track.
Torrential rain battered the Mandalika International Street Circuit before the start of Sunday’s race.
The terrifying moment a lightning bolt struck the track in Indonesia
The start of the race was delayed due to adverse weather conditions
Standing water on the asphalt made riding conditions too hazardous for the race to go ahead at the scheduled 7am (UK time) start.
But the water wasn’t quite as dangerous as the enormous lightning bolt that was captured making direct surface with the track.
The electrical surge hit one of the corners at Mandalika, sending flames into the air.
After fears that the event would have to be cancelled altogether after returning to Indonesia for the first time since 1997, the second race of the MotoGP season got underway an hour behind schedule.
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But the race, scheduled for 27 laps, was cut down to 20 due to the weather.
Miguel Oliveira eventually took the chequered flag for KTM Factory Racing after best negotiating the sodden conditions and dominating the shortened race.
The weekend was also marred by a horror Marc Marquez crash during a warm-up session.
Six-time world champion Marquez was sent flying off his bike and somersaulting through the air at 115mph – but walked away from the incident.
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He was declared “medically unfit” to race after being diagnosed with a concussion, but somehow managed to escape serious injury.
BT Sport commentator Gavin Emmett reacted to the incident: “That’s a shocking crash for Marc Marquez. That’s one of the biggest high-sides I’ve seen in 25 years covering this sport.
“He must have been 12 to 15 feet in the air the Repsol Honda man.”
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