MotoGP 2025: Alex Marquez wins in Malaysia

After wrapping up second place in the 2025 world championship during the Saturday Sprint of the Malaysian Grand Prix, and with brother Marc still sidelined, there was no better time for Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) to push for a race victory after qualifying in the middle of the front row.

But it was pole man and Sprint winner Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) who nabbed the holeshot from fast-starting Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM), who launched away from fifth, with Marquez slotting in behind in third. Some early aggression saw the Gresini rider snatch second position from Acosta at Turn 4 — a move he would repeat on Bagnaia the next time around to take the lead of the 20-lap Grand Prix.

With Bagnaia the only rider in the leading group to opt for the medium front tyre, Acosta tried to replicate that early aggression with lunges on the Italian at Turns 4 and 9 on the second lap, but the two-time world champ fought back both times to hold off the Spaniard, as the top three began to break away from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) in fourth.

Just as he had in the Sprint before crashing out, Joan Mir (HRC) was showing early signs of a strong result. After passing front-row starter Franky Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati), he closed the gap to Quartararo and was all over the Frenchman’s rear tyre as he searched for a way through, determined not to let the leading trio escape. His first attempt came at the final corner on lap six, but he ran wide and allowed the Yamaha back through.

Marquez maintained a 0.8-second buffer back to Bagnaia, who still couldn’t shake Acosta. Another two seconds separated the battle for fourth between Quartararo and Mir, who were in turn another second ahead of Morbidelli, Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati), and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda).

Notoriously difficult to pass, the leading three were 2.9 seconds clear when Mir eventually made a move stick on Quartararo on lap 10, as a six-rider battle for eighth began to heat up between Zarco, Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati), Luca Marini (HRC), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), and Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM) — the latter charging through from 19th on the grid. Morbidelli relegated Quartararo to sixth the next time around, and while Acosta remained glued to Bagnaia’s rear tyre, he finally found a way through at Turn 11 just after half-race distance.

At the start of lap 14, Marquez was 1.9 seconds clear of Acosta and Bagnaia, with Mir a further three seconds behind in fourth. With five laps left to run, it looked possible that Mir might catch Bagnaia, such was the pace the Italian seemed to be losing.

Aldeguer wasn’t living up to his pre-race hype as he struggled with the slippery conditions in seventh ahead of Di Giannantonio, while Zarco and Marini were locked in a battle for ninth. Binder and Bezzecchi were scrapping it out for 10th, the Italian showing none of the form from his recent run of results at the hot Malaysian circuit.

With three laps to go, Marquez was almost three seconds clear of Acosta, but it was the opposite story for teammate Aldeguer who, after wrapping up the Rookie of the Year title in the Saturday Sprint, lost the front of his GP24 in the final turn to join the crashers’ list, which already included Maverick Vinales’ replacement Pol Espargaro (Tech3 KTM), Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha), and Australian GP winner Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia).

And just as it looked as if Bagnaia had the measure of a late-charging Mir for the final spot on the podium, a rear puncture with three laps to go forced the Italian into the pits — a DNF and zero points. It was a tough blow for the two-time MotoGP champ, who would have reclaimed third place in the championship standings with Bezzecchi languishing further down the order.

Alex Marquez crossed the line to score his third victory of the season — his first not on home soil — as the Gresini Team secured Best Independent Team honours. Pedro Acosta was second in what was his fourth podium of the season and ninth in total, while Mir picked up third place for his second podium finish in four races.

Morbidelli and Quartararo completed the top five ahead of Di Giannantonio. Bastianini produced a strong second half of the race to claw his way up to seventh ahead of Marini and Binder. Rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) was the top Aprilia finisher after snatching 10th from Bezzecchi late on, while Zarco eventually finished 12th. Aussie Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Racing) came home 14th after qualifying 11th.

The result means it’s the two Marquez brothers holding a firm 1–2 in the standings, as Bezzecchi (291 points) and Bagnaia (286) battle it out for third overall. Acosta sits fourth on 260 ahead of Morbidelli (227), who has edged Di Giannantonio (226) by a single point. Miller remains 18th on 68 points.

The series now heads back to Europe for the penultimate round in Portimao from 7–9 November.