Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, MotoGP, 2018 Race: Rossi falls, Márquez triumphs, Zarco on the podium and Ducati in purgatory

He had taken pole position, but he only started seventh. Marc Márquez indeed received a six-place penalty for hindering Andrea Iannone during Q.2. The World Champion, who made a mistake for the 21st time of the year during this qualification, had nevertheless signed the 80th pole of his career, his seventh of the year. A performance which is not taken away from him for the statistics. In fact, in MotoGP, the Spaniard has three less than Valentino Rossi…Which we find on the front row of this Malaysian Grand Prix, alongside a Johann zarco in peak position!

Here is the setting and here is the table which sets the debate…

Sepang MotoGP™	2017	2018
FP1	2'00.671 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)	1'59.697 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)
FP2	2'11.640 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)	1'59.608 Alex Rins (see here)
FP3	1'59.947 Valentino Rossi (see here)	1'59.231 Maverick Viñales (see here)
FP4	2'00.438 Marc Márquez (see here)	2'00.083 Marc Márquez (see here)
Qualification 1	2'00.138 Alex Rins (see here)	2'13.311 Álvaro Bautista (see here)
Qualification 2	1'59.212 Dani Pedrosa (see here)	2'12.161 Marc Márquez (see here)
Warm-up	2'00.456 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)	2'11.476 Maverick Viñales
Course	Dovizioso, Lorenzo, Zarco (see here)
All time lap record	1'59.053 Dani Pedrosa (2015, old coating)

Since the introduction of MotoGP, Honda has taken pole 10 times at the Sepang track. And last year one of its representatives was also on pole, a certain Dani Pedrosa. John Zarco, who ultimately inherits pole position, had not experienced such a situation since Le Mans and Losail. The Frenchman was already on the front row at Motegi and Phillip Island, just like last season on the same Sepang track. This is the fourth time this year that we have found two M1s on the front row, after Austin, Mugello and Phillip Island.

Andrea Iannone completes the first line. The last time a Suzuki was on the front line was in 2005 with John Hopkins. The American was in third position. Joe the Maniac has never scored more than four podiums in a MotoGP season.

Andrea Dovizioso, who won the two previous editions at Sepang, will start from fourth place. This is the 13th time this year that the Ducati representative will start from one of the first two rows. If the Italian climbs onto the podium, he will have 51 Top 3s in the premier category, as many as Kevin Schwantz and Álex Crivillé.

It will be noted that Jordi Torres is out of this race, injured in his arm after his fall during FP4. Casa Particular in Viñales, Red et Miller were in the top three this morning.

Since the start of the meeting, we have been treated to this:

Le change of schedules bore fruit. The sky is clear, the track is dry for the next 20 laps. With 34° in the air and 54° on the track, you'll need to be in good shape to make it to the checkered flag...

Medium soft is the choice of rubber for the entire front line and favorites. Double medium for Miller and hard soft for Redding as Morbidely are the exceptions.

The release of wild beasts gives Rossi, Iannone, Miller et zarco at the first turn. Márquez is seventh and touches itself with Pedrosa.Casa Particular in Viñales remains eleventh ahead of Syahrin gone last! Before entering the second round, Márquez gets a scare in the last turn which distracts Iannone which falls.

Rossi, Zarco, Miller, Marquez et Dovizioso are the top 5 of the second round. Syahrin is eleventh behind Casa Particular in Viñales already 5 seconds from the lead. Márquez sets the best time in the race in 2'00.924. He repeats 2'00.881 in the next round. He is the only one under the 2'01 lap mark. Here he is third in the wake of zarco following Red.

After four rounds, Dovi pass Miller et zarco signs the best lap in the race. And the sky is filled with clouds... The Ducati ofAbraham refuses to go any further. At turn 14, Márquez open the door to zarco to set out in pursuit of Red to seven tenths. Dovizioso is two seconds away and Casa Particular in Viñales eighth at six seconds.

Pedrosa pass Dovizioso for fourth place after six laps. Pirro fall at turn 15. Ducati's business is going bad since Kidneys double one Dovizioso who slips to sixth, almost five seconds behind Red leader in front Márquez et zarco who clings to the duo... And who would join him in second place in the championship if things stayed there!

The Ducati official is not on the pace. He lets go of the leading group and sees Casa Particular in Viñales, eighth come back to him. Petrucci on the other GP18 is tenth. For the Desmosedici, it's disillusionment.

On the other hand, in front, Red has the pace and with 11 laps to go, he holds his own Márquez always at seven tenths. The same gap separates the World Champion and zarco. One lap later, the Doctor set his best lap time in 2'00.912.

 

Behind Dovi continues to move backwards. Casa Particular in Viñales has offered himself his scalp and sees right in front of him the duel between Pedrosa et Kidneys. There are eight rounds left and Rossifeel Marquez in respect for a little more than a second. Syahrin enters the top 10 at the expense of Petrucci which shows Ducatis in pain. And who lets the manufacturers' title slip to Honda

With seven rounds to go, Marquez regains half a second from the leading Yamaha. Casa Particular in Viñales pass Pedrosa and sets off in pursuit of Kidneys six tenths ahead of him. But Red is more than seven seconds away. zarco is an isolated third. Márquez is more than three seconds away and Kidneys is just over two seconds away.

With five laps to go, Red, Márquez et Casa Particular in Viñales are the only drivers to run under 2'01. And Márquez gives everything to stick with the Doctor.

Four laps from the goal, Red crash at turn 1 and seal this race for good.

In the last round, Kidneys swallow downright zarco who still takes a podium. Casa Particular in Viñales is fourth and can regret his disappointing start to the race due to his poor qualification. Pedrosa closes the top 5 to one Dovizioso anonymous who is ahead of a Ducati caravan made up of Bautista, Miller, et Petrucci. Syahrin is tenth and best among beginners. Aleix Espargaró puts his Aprilia eleventh.

Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, MotoGP, Race: classification.

Photo credit and ranking: MotoGP.com