The Malaysian Grand Prix saw a sensational clash between Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, who locked horns for pole position. Pramac ace Martin looked set to secure top spot, but the world champion pulled off a major upset with a masterful lap.
The day also saw Johann zarco, pilot of the LCR Honda, shine by qualifying brilliantly for the second decisive qualifying session. Brad Binder, of the team KTM, set the second fastest time in Q1, while five DucatiTwo Yamaha Two KTM, a Aprilia and Honda gave their all to achieve the best time.
bagnaia, true to his status as favourite, opened the show with an impressive time, but it was then that George Martin set the track alight with an incredible lap in 1'56, beating the reigning champion's old record by almost a second. Enea Bastianini a, for its part, took third place, followed by Marc Marquez, which effectively took advantage of the aspiration of bagnaia.
Behind them, Franco Morbidelli et fabio quartararo ranked fourth and sixth respectively, although they were significantly behind Martin. While everyone thought that the time of Martin would remain unmatched, Francis Bagnaia emerged three minutes from the end of Q2 to set a dream lap of 1'56.337, taking pole position.
Martin tried everything to regain command, but was unable to beat the time of bagnaia. Alex Marquez brilliantly confirmed his form by taking the last place in the first row. The second row will be occupied by Morbidely et Marquez, While bastianini, despite a fall in the last corner, will have to settle for sixth place.
Jack Miller managed to place his KTM in seventh position, followed by Yamaha de Quarterly et Kidneys. Brad Binder will complete the fourth line. On the other hand, Johann zarco, despite having shone in Q1, could not do better than an eleventh time, while Maverick Vinales had to face difficulties in qualifying.
As the tension builds for the race, bagnaia et Martin will face off again, promising a thrilling battle on the track! What will this Sprint in Sepang? Before you know it, here is the table that summarizes the facts known so far.
MotoGP™ Malaysia, Sepang |
2023 |
2024 |
FP1 | 1'59.513 Jorge Martin (See here) | 1'58.795 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
Practice | 1'57.823 Alex Marquez (See here) | 1'57.679 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
FP2 | 1'58.960 Fabio Quartararo (See here) | 1'58.658 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
Q1 | 1'57.823 Fabio Di Giannantonio (See here) | 1'57.635 Johann Zarco (See here) |
Q2 | 1'57.491 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) | 1'56.337 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
Sprint | Alex Marquez, Martin, Bagnaia (See here) | Martin, Marc Marquez, Bastianini (See here) |
Warm Up | 1'59.218 Fabio Quartararo (See here) | (See here) |
Course | Bastianini, A. Marquez, Bagnaia (See here) | (See here) |
All time lap record | 1'57.491 Francesco Bagnaia 2023 (See here) | 1'56.337 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) |
It's Sprint day...in 30 minutes, madness will invade us to make us vibrate to the sound of GP motorcycles
Small drops of rain are starting to appear as preparations for the race are well underway.
#TissotSprint Build Up | 2024 #MalaysianGP https://t.co/PV2Ujd2uls
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Good morning everyone…it’s up to you to play, to make your predictions…
#TissotSprint winner predictions HERE! 👇#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 | #TheRematch 🏆
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Grid layout!!
The bikes roar into life
Grid time, let's go 👊#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/q7wOGmKrQn
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
10 laps will be completed…rain or no rain….??
Minute of silence in tribute to the Spanish victims..Not very respected…? No??
To a place that many in our paddock call home
We're thinking of all those affected by the terrible floods in Valencia, and elsewhere, in Spain
We send our love, support and condolences during incredibly tough times pic.twitter.com/zquQabQdtq
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Warming round…
The track is declared dry…but riders are allowed to change bikes (white flag) if necessary.
30° in the air and 40° on the track
It's off and Martin takes the lead ahead of Bagnaia and MMarquez. Bastianini and AMarquez complete the top 5
🚦 #THEREMATCH IS ON🚦
Side-by-side, the title contenders dive into T1! Martin leads!!! 🚀#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/UA89gEi40j
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Quartararo is 7th
Bastianini, very fast, passes AMarquez and takes 4th position
At 9 laps, the top 10 is composed of: Martin at 0.191s, Bagnaia, MMarquez, Bastianini, AMarquez, Quartararo, Binder, Morbidelli, Miller and Acosta
👀 @marcmarquez93 is prowling all over @PeccoBagnaia's back! @ 88jorgemartin leads at the end of lap 1! #MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/Gwi58MBBWg
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Bagnaia falls! He loses the front..
THAT COULD BE IT! 🚨
THAT COULD BE THE MOMENT WHERE @PECCOBAGNAIA LOSES THE 2024 #MotoGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! 💥#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/LC8AmtSm2t
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
With 7 laps to go, Martin has a 0.943s lead over Marquez and Bastianini.
It's a disaster for Bagnaia...Martin now has a 29-point lead in the championship...He could be crowned champion tomorrow...
29 points! 🤯@PeccoBagnaia is locked frozen as the realization sets in that @ 88jorgemartin now has the golden opportunity to steal his crown away! #MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/UzaQNEUpdv
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
With 4 laps to go, the top10 is made up of: Martin, MMarquez, Bastianini, AMarquez, Quartararo, Morbidelli, Binder, Miller, Acosta and Bezzecchi
FOCUS
There are still five laps to go for @ 88jorgemartin here! 🔄#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/Y5plzYyYCV
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Zarco retired due to technical problem…engine failure!
Fight for 8th position between Miller and Acosta… in this little game, it’s Miller who has the last word…
Quartararo, 6th..
A deeply impressive ride coming in from @FabioQ20! 👏
He's holding an incredibly strong 5th right now as he's chasing an equally impressive @ alexmarquez73! #MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/r45zvV1Nhe
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Last round!!
Martin leads the dance ahead of MMarquez and Bastianini.
The biggest lap of @ 88jorgemartin's career so far is going down right now! 🚨#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/zVwf9nBJct
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Martin wins ahead of Marquez and Bastianini
MASTERFUL MARTINATOR! 🦾@ 88jorgemartin win the #TissotSprint in Sepang and extends his lead to 29 POINTS! 🚀#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/UlCwPB8kxF
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
MATCH POINT! ✅@ 88jorgemartin with the biggest win of his life to set up a first title shot tomorrow! 🚨#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/BSzfYQ9Ag4
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
This will not be regular #TissotSprint gold medal!
It's the crucial piece that might just set @ 88jorgemartin up for the biggest treasure haul he's ever seen! 🏆#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/1Jw3BZv6yp
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
“Work, work, work” 💪
Three positions recovered and finished ahead of @ Bestia23 ✅@marcmarquez93 gets the job done once again! 🥈#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/s319SqUelc
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
Bronze medal and some crucial points for @ Bestia23 to fight for 3rd in the Championship ⚔️🥉#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/xpDzJQZg3e
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 2, 2024
MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix Sprint Results at Sepang:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
Malaysia