MotoGP News: Alex Marquez Dominates Sepang, Marquez brothers 1-2 in championship

In a weekend of milestones for the Marquez brothers, Alex Marquez (pictured) capped off his second-place finish in the MotoGP World Championship with a masterful victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The #73 Spaniard controlled the 20-lap Sepang showdown from the front, pulling away to win by 2.6 seconds over rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The race’s late twist—a mechanical gremlin for polesitter Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)—handed Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) a hard-fought third, marking Honda’s first podium of the flyaway finale and Mir’s second of the season.

Holeshot for Bagnaia, But Marquez Strikes Back Early

Bagnaia, fresh off his Sprint dominance, converted pole into an immediate holeshot, with Acosta slicing through to second on the opening lap. The duo’s early skirmish set the tone, but Marquez wasted no time crashing the party. On Lap 1, he dispatched Acosta at Turn 4, then outbraked Bagnaia into the inside line at Turn 1 the following lap to snatch the lead—a move that echoed his aggressive Sprint charge and signaled his intent to make history outside Spain.

The front three quickly detached, leaving Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Mir to duel for fourth. Bagnaia, on a medium front tire, fended off Acosta’s relentless pressure: the KTM rookie lunged at Turn 4 on Lap 3, only for Pecco to counter at Turn 5; another bid at Turn 9 fell short. This cat-and-mouse allowed Marquez to eke out a 0.8-second cushion, with Quartararo and Mir locked in a tense scrap 1.6 seconds adrift. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) lurked 1.1 seconds behind the ex-champions, while teammate Fermin Aldeguer struggled to find rhythm, trailing by another 1.5 seconds.

As the race settled, Marquez’s lead stabilized around the one-second mark, his Ducati humming perfectly on the abrasive Sepang surface. Acosta remained glued to Bagnaia’s tail, but the Italian’s tire choice began to show faint cracks under the rookie’s scrutiny.

Mid-Race Momentum Shifts: Crashes, Passes, and Tire Battles

Lap 10 brought the first breakthrough in the mid-pack, as Mir slotted past Quartararo with a precise dive, inheriting clean air and a 2.7-second deficit to the leaders. Tire management now loomed large in the humid heat, with the field entering the decisive second half.

Drama unfolded on Lap 12 when Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), the Australian GP victor, highsided at Turn 1—mere moments after Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) slid out of contention. Up front, Marquez unleashed a scorching 2:00.546 on Lap 14, a full second quicker than Bagnaia and over half a second faster than Acosta, underscoring the Gresini’s superior setup.

Acosta, undeterred, finally broke through at Turn 11, demoting Bagnaia to third and opening a two-second gap to Marquez. The move exposed Bagnaia’s front tire woes, but the Ducati rider clawed back pace over the next two laps, holding Mir at bay by 1.9 seconds with four to go. Acosta, now the hunter, trailed Marquez by 2.5 seconds—needing a slip from the leader to chase his maiden MotoGP win.

Mir, meanwhile, carved through the 2:00s in fourth, his Honda alive with fresh legs, while Morbidelli shadowed in fifth. Aldeguer’s charge ended abruptly with a last-corner crash, but the real shock came on the penultimate lap: Bagnaia sensed trouble entering Turn 1, glancing repeatedly at his rear wheel as power faltered. The issue—later confirmed as a mechanical failure—stranded the #63 on the roadside, erasing a potential podium and handing Mir an unexpected gift after his Sprint retirement.

Marquez Seals the Deal in Untroubled Fashion

With Bagnaia out, the final lap unfolded without incident. Marquez nursed his 2.8-second lead over Acosta to the flag, securing Gresini’s first Sepang win since 2019 and his first Grand Prix triumph beyond Spanish soil. Acosta’s P2 was another masterclass from the 21-year-old, 13 seconds clear of the next KTM in a weekend that cements his arrival. Mir crossed 1.4 seconds ahead of Morbidelli, rounding out a podium that sparked wild celebrations in the Honda garage.

Morbidelli’s late-race surge netted fourth, fending off a charging Quartararo—who yielded at Turn 15 to avoid contact. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claimed sixth, two seconds up on Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), whose P7 recovery from 19th showcased “The Beast’s” grit. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) filled eighth through tenth, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) a subdued 11th in a tough outing for the Italian squad.

The points trail tapered off with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) in 12th, followed by Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), and wildcard Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR).

Championship Shake-Up and Portuguese Preview

Marquez’s double delight locks in his runner-up spot, shifting focus to the P3 battle: Bezzecchi clings to a five-point edge over Bagnaia, with Acosta lurking 31 points back—keeping the rookie’s mathematical shot alive. Aprilia regains third in constructors thanks to Pecco’s misfortune, but the momentum swings toward Portimao.

The Algarve circuit awaits next weekend (November 1-3), where late-season fireworks could redefine the pecking order before the Valencia finale. With flyaways in the rearview, the fight for glory intensifies—tune in for what promises to be a Portuguese thriller.

2025 Malaysian GP Race Results – 20 Laps