MARC MARQUEZ TOPS SEPANG WARM-UP AFTER LATE START

Marc Marquez set the pace in Sunday morning’s MotoGP warm-up at Sepang, despite spending the first half of the brief session in the pits. The Ducati rider clocked 1m 58.902s on his four-lap run, finishing 0.486 seconds ahead of younger brother Alex and 0.503 seconds clear of Pedro Acosta.

Marc’s late departure was understood to be a way of conserving energy ahead of the 20-lap Grand Prix in the Malaysian heat. He reached the top of the timesheets immediately and took an energy gel after returning to the pits. Alex, who starts from pole, was looking to recover from crashing while leading Saturday’s Sprint. Acosta, the Sprint winner, completed the top three.

Ai Ogura was fourth, followed by Johann Zarco, Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, Alex Rins, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Joan Mir. Francesco Bagnaia ended the session 12th, 0.909 seconds behind Marc. Franco Morbidelli was the only rider to fall and finished last, more than ten seconds off the pace.

Most riders used soft tyres at both ends of their bikes; Binder was the exception, choosing a medium front. The warm-up offered a final check before the race, scheduled for 3pm local time. Rain disrupted Saturday’s Sprint, but forecasts suggested any further showers were more likely to arrive after the Grand Prix.

The session also came with major championship implications. Marc began the day 19 points ahead of Jorge Martin, who withdrew after attempting to ride a week after breaking a wrist bone at Phillip Island. Marc’s second place behind Acosta in the Sprint extended his advantage, and a Grand Prix win would increase it to 47 points. If he leaves Sepang at least 38 points clear, he will have a mathematical opportunity to secure his tenth world title at next weekend’s Qatar round. Two rounds, in Portugal and Valencia, and a possible 74 points would remain after Qatar.

Aprilia’s Bezzecchi and Ogura were among the leading challengers as the manufacturer sought to limit losses in the riders’ and constructors’ standings. The team was already without Martin, while Raul Fernandez had also stepped aside because of continuing problems with a finger injury. At Pramac, Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez is standing in for Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is out for the rest of the season after shoulder surgery.

Honda’s Joan Mir and Luca Marini were back in action. Marini had missed Phillip Island with a virus, while Mir had been receiving treatment for fatigue issues since Misano. With Marc fastest after a deliberately short run and the title stakes rising, the warm-up set the scene for a demanding race in Sepang’s heat.