The key facts

  • Marc Marquez finished second in the Sepang sprint and leads Martin by 19 points
  • Jorge Martin withdrew from the weekend, having not recovered from a wrist fracture
  • Pedro Acosta won the sprint, with Marco Bezzecchi third

Sprint in Sepang: Acosta's victory and Marquez's lead

Marc Marquez extended his lead in the MotoGP championship by finishing second in Saturday's sprint at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit, AFP reports. The win went to Pedro Acosta with a time of 20 minutes 04.098 seconds — Marquez on his Ducati trailed him by 0.578 seconds, while third place went to Marco Bezzecchi, who made a late charge.

Martin's withdrawal changes the title fight

Reigning champion Marquez now leads his closest pursuer Jorge Martin by 19 points: Martin, who rides for Aprilia, withdrew from the weekend on Saturday, having failed to recover from a wrist fracture. After Malaysia, only three race weekends remain in the season, and according to Martin himself, his chances of reclaiming the title he won in 2024 may be slipping away.

The course of the race

Marquez, who started second, nearly collided with Ai Ogura at the first corner after the start, while his younger brother Alex Marquez, who led from pole, ran off the track on the third lap, after which Ogura took the lead. Light rain fell over the circuit, and on the seventh lap Acosta overtook Ogura to become the race's third leader; Marquez then passed the Japanese rider and chased Acosta all the way to the finish. Marquez himself said after the race that he did not enjoy it: