MotoGP: Marquez takes command in Malaysian GP

A lot can happen in nine days. When Marc Marquez (Lenovo Ducati) arrived at Phillip Island, he was two points adrift of MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing). Fast-forward nine days and Marquez leaves the Malaysian Grand Prix 44 points clear, with his first opportunity to claim the title coming next time out in Qatar.

Martin made an impressive effort to keep his title hopes alive, opting not to have surgery on the fractured wrist he sustained in the Sprint at the Australian Grand Prix so he could race in Malaysia. But after completing more than a dozen laps across Friday’s two practice sessions and returning to the track for Saturday morning’s FP2, the Spaniard decided to withdraw from the event and concentrate on getting fit for Qatar.

Marquez qualified on the front row behind his brother Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) in third. He collected nine points by finishing second to Acosta in the Sprint, crucially crossing the line one place ahead of his next title rival, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing).

When the lights went out for the start of the 20-lap Grand Prix in punishingly hot conditions, Alex streaked ahead off the line. But Marc judged the braking perfectly and led into Turn 1, recognising the importance of reaching the first apex ahead of the others through the tricky opening corners.

Alex briefly regained the advantage before running wide and handing the lead back to his older brother. A fast-starting Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) slotted into third ahead of Bezzecchi. Acosta, meanwhile, had dropped to fifth before recovering to third by the end of the opening lap.

The Marquez brothers quickly began pulling away from the chasing pack, with Marc holding a slender advantage of just four-tenths of a second after four laps. While the reigning world champion managed his tyres and the physical demands of Sepang’s oppressive heat, Acosta closed in on Alex after setting the fastest lap of the race on just the second circuit.

Further back, Bezzecchi and Ogura – the only Aprilias taking part in the race – were fourth and fifth, ahead of Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM), Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) and Luca Marini (HRC). The VR46 Ducati duo of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli completed the top 10.

By lap six, Marc had stretched his advantage to half a second, with Acosta just three-tenths behind Alex and closing. A lap later, the factory Ducati rider had extended his lead to more than six-tenths, while Acosta continued to shadow the younger Marquez, looking for a way through.

While Marc made the most of the clear track ahead, Acosta’s persistence paid off on lap 10 when he finally found a way past the younger Marquez through the change of direction between Turns 10 and 11, immediately opening a gap to the Gresini Ducati rider. But as they crossed the line to start lap 11, Marc was already almost two seconds up the road.

With the podium positions becoming increasingly secure, attention turned to the battle for fourth between Bezzecchi and Ogura. The Aprilia riders traded positions before making contact with three laps remaining, sending pieces of Ogura’s machine flying. The Japanese rider eventually gained the upper hand, while Bezzecchi’s afternoon deteriorated further when a last-lap mistake allowed Enea Bastianini through to fifth.

Out front, Marquez was untouchable, crossing the line 4.172 seconds ahead of Acosta to claim his 80th premier-class victory, his seventh Grand Prix win of the season and his first at Sepang since 2018. Alex completed the podium, ahead of Ogura, Bastianini and Bezzecchi.

Australian Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha) endured another difficult weekend. He pitted when the rain flags came out during Saturday’s Sprint, only to find that his second bike was not ready. He then finished 16th and outside the points on Sunday.

Marquez now heads to Qatar with 399 championship points, 44 clear of Martin (355) and 67 ahead of Bezzecchi (332). Acosta (295) and Ogura (278) complete the top five. Miller remains 19th on 31 points.

With 111 points still available across the final three rounds, including 37 in Qatar, Marquez can wrap up his eighth premier-class title with two rounds to spare if he outscores Martin by at least 30 points and Bezzecchi by eight this weekend.