MARQUEZ HOLDS OFF CELEBRATIONS AS BEZZECCHI’S TITLE HOPES FADE

Marc Marquez left Sepang with a 67-point lead over Marco Bezzecchi and a 44-point advantage over injured Jorge Martin after winning the Malaysian Grand Prix. The result effectively ended Bezzecchi’s title hopes and put Marquez within reach of the championship as early as this week. But he is resisting any premature celebration: “I don’t want to fall into the trap.”

Marquez took his seventh victory of the season in Malaysia, moving past brother Alex on the opening lap and pulling away to win by almost five seconds. Former rider Neil Hodgson felt Alex had left the door open for his brother. The win gave Marquez match point in Qatar, where he could secure an eighth MotoGP crown.

The Spaniard’s charge has been remarkable: he was 102 points behind at Mugello, his first race back after a crash and surgery at Le Mans, but has since won seven of the last 12 races. If he takes the title, it would be the biggest comeback in MotoGP history. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi has won twice this season, while Martin’s sole victory came at Le Mans; he has not won since.

Bezzecchi finished sixth at Sepang, losing 17 points to Marquez after conceding six at Phillip Island. He now needs to limit the deficit over the Qatar weekend: he cannot afford to drop more than eight points, or seven if Marquez wins Sunday’s race. “Realistically, it’s tough,” he admitted, though he said he would keep believing while the mathematics remained in his favour. “This GP comes in a part of the championship where we didn’t need a GP where we struggle.”

Sepang has traditionally been difficult for Aprilia and suited Ducati, but Bezzecchi is more hopeful about Lusail. “Now we go to Qatar, a track where hopefully we can go well,” he said. “I’ll give my all as always to try to prepare good races, and give my best every time. And then we will see at the end.” He described the championship as “more lost than [won]” but said he would keep trying to make the most of each weekend.

Peter Bom argued on the Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast that Marquez’s title bid has benefited from a “lack of fierce competition.” He acknowledged the depth of talent on the grid, but said talent alone was not enough: “He’s got the whole package.” Bom added that Marquez has so many of the qualities required to win that “he can even have half arm amputated and he’s still winning it because he’s got everything else sorted.”

Aprilia’s season was also disrupted by Martin taking out Bezzecchi in Hungary, followed by Bezzecchi’s suspension from the Czech Grand Prix after striking a track marshal. Martin, 44 points behind Marquez, is targeting a return in Qatar, with only Portimao and Valencia left afterwards. The Qatar round, Marquez’s first chance to clinch the championship, is uncertain amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Marquez has said he will arrive on Thursday evening, while Yamaha has already withdrawn; further team and rider boycotts remain possible.