Alex Marquez passes three riders to win MotoGP sprint in Malaysian GP, with Jorge Martin in second from Francesco Bagnaia.
It was a clean start from pole-sitter Francesco Bagnaia on his Ducati in the MotoGP sprint in Malaysian GP from teammate Enea Bastianini, but by the end of the lap, Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez took on him and cleared him for second.
Bastianini even lost out to KTM’s Jack Miller for fourth with the other KTM of Brad Binder just behind in sixth. VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi was seventh from Pramac’s Johann Zarco, with the other VR46 of Luca Marini in the final point position in ninth.
The Top 10 had Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli with his teammate Fabio Quartararo having a bad start to drop to the back of the field. While Bagnaia led the way, Marquez started to pressure him and he even passed him for the lead in the final corner.
But a wide moment dropped him to second and in the clutches of Martin. The two exchanges places a couple of times, but Marquez managed to retain second. Behind them, Miller steadied in fourth but Bastianini and Binder continued their fight.
They exchanged places for a couple of laps but Bastianini was fifth, as Bezzecchi, Zarco and Marini kept their track positions in the Top 9. Both Hondas of Marc Marquez and Joan Mir had separate falls on separate laps but they both managed to continue on.
While it was looking good for Bagnaia at the front for a while but not for long. Marquez pressured him and eventually took the MotoGP sprint lead. It went from bad to worse for Bagnaia as Martin too cleared him on Lap 6 to drop him to third.
A quicker Bastianini was fourth after clearing Miller but didn’t overtake his teammate Bagnaia. The Australian was passed by Binder for fifth. At the front, Marquez stretched a comfortable lead to win the MotoGP sprint in Malaysian GP by over one second.
Martin was second to lessen the points gap to third placed Bagnaia. Teammate Bastianini was fourth and did not pass him while keeping Binder at bay in the fight for fourth. Miller was sixth from Bezzecchi, Zarco and Marini in the points places in the Top 9.
Here’s full results: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1723243622512857385?s=20
