ALEX MARQUEZ LEADS DUCATI ONE-TWO AFTER BAGNAIA’S LATE RETIREMENT

Ducati’s grip on the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend looked uncertain at first. In Friday’s important practice session, no Ducati rider made the top five: Pedro Acosta led the way for KTM, ahead of Johann Zarco, Jack Miller, Joan Mir and Fabio Quartararo. Alex Marquez only scraped into Q2 in ninth, while Pecco Bagnaia had to fight through Q1. He recovered emphatically, taking pole and leading an all-Ducati front row with Marquez and Franco Morbidelli.

Several leading riders were absent. Marc Marquez, Jorge Martin and Maverick Viñales remained sidelined, with Michele Pirro, Lorenzo Savadori and Pol Espargaro stepping in for them respectively.

Bagnaia converted pole into victory in Saturday’s sprint, despite Acosta’s efforts to disrupt the Ducati pair’s charge. Acosta crossed the line fourth, behind rookie Fermin Aldeguer, but was promoted to third after Aldeguer received an eight-second penalty for running below the minimum tyre pressure. The result also settled the weekend’s rookie contest in Aldeguer’s favour over Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra.

Sunday’s race initially followed a similar pattern, with Bagnaia appearing in control. Alex Marquez had already fought past Acosta, but the race changed dramatically when Bagnaia’s rear tyre developed a slow puncture. The two-time world champion had to retire with two laps remaining, handing the lead to Marquez.

Marquez held on for victory, while Acosta finished second for a major result in the Malaysian heat. Mir climbed from the third row to take third, giving Honda another podium after its success in Japan. Marco Bezzecchi, who had qualified 14th, recovered to sixth in the sprint but endured a difficult Grand Prix, finishing 11th.

The weekend was also overshadowed by a serious Moto3 collision before that class’s race, involving Swiss rider Noah Dettwiler and champion Jose Antonio Rueda. Dettwiler was reported to be fighting for his life after the crash; the source notes that he won a day later.