MotoGP Preview: Malaysian Grand Prix
With the Australian Grand Prix cancelled, riders and fans alike are eagerly awaiting another proper race weekend.
Marc Márquez claimed the championship lead last week after winning on Saturday, but luckily for Jorge Martín, he is only 10 points behind the reigning world champion. Bezzecchi is 50 points away from the lead, still a potential contender for the title.
Going into the Malaysian Grand Prix, here is everything you need to know as we enter the final stint of the season...
This week’s track: Sepang International Circuit
The Sepang International Circuit features 15 challenging turns along a length of 5.53 km (3.444 mi), making it one of the longest tracks on the calendar. Its length, combined with the heat and humidity, makes Malaysia a true endurance test for riders.
Sepang offers plenty of overtaking opportunities, with two long straights back-to-back. Each one is followed by a tight hairpin (Turn 1 and Turn 15 respectively), both heavy braking zones, ideal for bold moves.
Some other key spots to keep an eye on this weekend are Turns 4 and 9, two other tight corners coming after high-speed areas.
Located near the city of Kuala Lumpur, Sepang International Circuit has been a part of MotoGP racing history since 1999, and along the way it hosted a variety of other competitions, including Formula One. Racing here is never easy, but that’s precisely what makes the Malaysian Grand Prix stand out.
Past results
Last season, Francesco Bagnaia claimed a surprise pole that could’ve brought him the much-coveted win he longed for all season. Marc Márquez was still out of contention, but this did not mean that the competition was any less intense.
It took just two laps for Álex Márquez, who started from third, to claim the lead from Bagnaia and command the race up until the chequered flag. His performance helped Gresini Racing claim the title of “Best Independent Team” in Malaysia.
Bagnaia faced more heartbreak towards the end of the race, when a technical failure forced him to retire from third, leaving Joan Mir to inherit his position. Another standout in Malaysia came from Enea Bastianini, who climbed from 19th on the grid all the way up to seventh.
Going back in time, Sepang was also the scene of key moments, such as Valentino Rossi winning three world titles at this track or the famous clash between Marc Márquez and Rossi.
It’s hard to mention the history of the track without also remembering Marco Simoncelli, the young talent who lost his life at this track in 2011. At Turn 11, a bronze plaque was placed in his honour.
Key talking points
Although Sunday activities were cancelled, the Australian weekend still managed to stir up the title fight. Marc Márquez won the sprint, reclaiming the championship lead after his main rival, Martín, crashed. Bezzecchi made up some points on Saturday as well, finishing fourth.
However, the inclement weather on Sunday did not allow Marc Márquez to extend his lead beyond the 12-point margin he had eked out on Saturday. Davide Tardozzi, Ducati team manager, appeared wary of his rider’s title chances, warning of Aprilia's great potential.
He stated: "Martín made a mistake, but he was very, very competitive. I do not know if Marc would be able to beat him at the end of the race. I think that it was head-to-head until the end, but unfortunately, he made a mistake.”
Tardozzi also remains cautious of Bezzecchi, stating: “I think that 50 points is nothing. I think that Marco has the potential to win every race; every race from now till the end. So, I think that the 50-point [deficit] for Marco is good for us, but not bad.
Meanwhile, Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola's main focus is on seeing Martín return at Sepang.
“I hope to see Jorge (Martín) in Sepang, at least with us. And let's see. I think the story between Aprilia and Jorge was quite unlucky. The lucky aspect this time is that the bone is just broken; it's not dramatic.
“But I would like to see the same story between the two of us finish in the best possible way, with him 100% physically.”
Mir is set to return to the track after he had to sit out of the Australian Grand Prix weekend. Fermín Aldeguer, on the other hand, is still undergoing his recovery and will remain sidelined this week as well.
One more month of racing, four Grand Prix and a title fight that threatens to go all the way to the last finish line. Don’t miss the exciting action awaiting in Malaysia this Sunday, 1st November from 15:00 track time (07:00 GMT).
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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