07:24
Marquez wins
Marquez wins 💮the Malaysian MotoGP sprint ahead of Martin and Bagnaia. Bastianini was fourth and Brad Binder fifth.
Enea Bastianini, Malaysian MotoGP, 10 November
2023 Malaysian MotoGP: Saturday Sprint LIVE UPDATES!
Just 13 points separate reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia from title rival Jorge Martin heading into the final triple header of the MotoGP season, starting at Sepang this weekend.
While Bagnaia holds a narrow points advantage, momentum is back with Martin after taking a perfect double of Sprint and GP victories last time out in Thailand.
However, Martin was also among several riders to receive an official warning for low tyre pressure in the Buriram GP. Another infringement in the remaining rounds will result in the Pramac rider receiving a 3s post-race time penalty.
Aside from the title fight, the big news this weekend is a wild-card entry for reigning World Superbike champion Alvaro Bautista. The Spaniard, making his first MotoGP start since 2018, is riding a factory spec Ducati GP23 in Aruba.It colours.
Bautista is not the only WorldSBK rider on the grid with Alex Rins, who missed Thailand after undergoing further leg surgery, replaced by Iker Lecuona for both Sepang and next weekend’s Qatar round.
Sepang was the venue for the opening pre-season test of the year, in February, when Luca Marini (fastest), Francesco Bagnaia, Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin were all covered by 0.315s at the top of the timesheets.
Weather forecasts currently warn of an increasing risk of rain as the weekend goes on, rising to over 90% by lunch♍time on Sunday.
Alex Marquez was fastest in Friday practice, ahead of Martin and the KTMs of Jack Miller and Brad Binder💎, with Bagnaia in eighth...
11 Nov 2023
07:21
It's final lap time 🐼at Sepang. Marquez st⛦ill leads by a full second.
07:15
Bagnaia is downꦍ to third. Martin has overtaken his title rival.
07:14
Marquez leads. He'✤sꩵ through on Bagnaia with five laps remaining.
07:10
Disaster for Honda on lap 3
Marc Marquez has crashed at turn 14.
07:08
Lap 3
Marquez and Martin are battling very ha♔rd and are losing time to Bagnai𒆙a by doing so.
07:07
Bagnaia has A. Ma♑rquez all over the back of him. Martin is also with the two leaders.
07:04
Lap 1
Bagnaia leads but Martin ha🧸s been pushed down to fourth place.
07:03
Lights out at Sepang
It's lights out for the sprint race in Malaysia. 🐎🥃;
07:00
The formation lap is underway at Sepang.
06:55
We're just five minutes away from lights out at for ཧthe Malaysian MotoGP sprint.
04:07
No is the answer!
Reigning champion and title leader Francesco Bagnaia s𒉰natches pole by just 0.058s on his fꦬinal lap.
The world championship top two will 🔯thus start side-by-sideꦦ in this weekend's races.
04:06
The chequered flag is out, Martin falls at Turn 4 while trying to improv🌺e on his provisional pole time. Will he keep P1?
04:05
Luca Ma🌳rini falls at turn 9, which means more yellow flags and ca✤ncelled laps.
04:04
Meanwhile, fellow꧋ Qualifying 1 graduate Bastianini, who sat out the opening minutes, shots to second.
04:04
Fabio di Giannantonio falls at the final corner.
04:01
The final qualifying run begins.
03:58
Order at halfway stage: Martin, Marini, A.Marquez, Baﷺgnaia, Binder, Vinales, Quartararo, Miller, Bezzecchi, di Giannantonio, Zarco, Bastianini.
03:57
Martin snatches the top꧃ spot from Marini by 0.238s on his second flyer, as riders then back off to head for their tyre change.
03:56
Marini's time is a new official lap record,🉐 but wonꦯ't last for long...
03:55
The first flying lap finishes with Luca Marini on provisional poleꦆ from Martin and Alex✃ Marquez.
03:54
Lots of rid💛ers waiting🦋 for a tow on their out-laps...
