MARQUEZ SETS THE PACE AS MARTIN’S SEPANG WEEKEND HANGS IN THE BALANCE

Marc Marquez set the pace on Friday at Sepang, topping both MotoGP sessions as the championship picture shifted around him. With Jorge Martin’s participation in doubt after a wrist fracture and next week’s Qatar Grand Prix clouded by regional security concerns, the Malaysian round could prove pivotal in a title fight that remains subject to calendar uncertainty.

Marquez’s best lap was 1m57.000s, 0.109 seconds clear of the field. He crashed early in Practice but recovered to lead the session, and was fastest in FP1 as well. He said it had been “a perfect Friday” because “from the first run the feeling was good”, adding that he felt comfortable on both the soft and medium tyres. He did not use a new soft rear tyre for his final run, while several rivals did.

The Ducati rider has a 10-point championship lead and said the title is “in my own hands”, with the aim of getting “as close as possible to 37 points” at Sepang. A maximum-scoring weekend, combined with results from his rivals, could put him in position to reach match point in Qatar. Marco Bezzecchi is 50 points behind, while Martin’s injury has made it harder for the Aprilia rider to keep his challenge alive.

Martin rode on Friday despite saying he could not brush his teeth with his injured right hand. He completed 12 laps in FP1, then managed only three in Practice before returning to the garage after a front-end scare at Turn 12. Aprilia said the decision to withdraw him was made objectively with his doctors. His condition and plans for the rest of the weekend remain uncertain.

Ducati appeared to have an advantage in race pace, although the Friday data was incomplete. Marquez’s soft-tyre run lasted only two representative laps after his crash; Alex Marquez completed a longer stint and was also near the front. Ai Ogura was the quickest Aprilia rider, third overall, while Pedro Acosta led KTM’s effort in fourth. Joan Mir was Honda’s fastest in 10th, and Alex Rins was Yamaha’s best in 14th.

Alex Marquez is managing a shoulder injury from his crash at the Catalan Grand Prix. He is expected to push through the pain, with painkillers planned for Sunday’s race. Bezzecchi, meanwhile, is dealing with a pre-existing knee problem. Aprilia is also without Raul Fernandez, who withdrew because of a finger injury.

The track itself added another concern. Sepang’s asphalt broke up during Friday running, with Fabio Di Giannantonio comparing the surface to a motocross track. Jack Miller’s assessment was more blunt: “It’s fucked.” The circuit had been due for resurfacing, but the work did not happen; limited scraping earlier in the month was followed by further damage from Formula 1 running. The deteriorating surface raises the risk of crashes and recalls problems in Brazil, where MotoGP shortened the race shortly before the start after sections of asphalt came away.

Rain is also forecast for the weekend. Beyond Sepang, the Qatar round is uncertain amid warnings of renewed US-Iran hostilities. Even if Doha is not directly affected, a Gulf airspace shutdown could leave the paddock stranded and threaten the planned Portugal and Valencia races. For now, Marquez can only focus on the weekend in front of him, while the championship’s remaining schedule remains unsettled.