What a stunning fight between brothers at the top. It was Alex Marquez (Bk8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) who claimed Saturday morning P1 honours for the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, dropping a glorious 1:56.493 to snatch the top spot away from World Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team). The margin separating the pair in a blistering Q2 was a mere 0.070s, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) slotting into third place just a further 0.014s in arrears.
Unfortunately, the morning brought disaster for Aprilia Racing as heroic Jorge Martin was forced to withdraw from the remainder of the weekend. Just a week after fracturing his wrist in the Phillip Island Sprint, the 2024 World Champion displayed incredible grit and bravery to try and ride in Malaysia, but the discomfort proved simply too much to continue. That left title-chasing teammate Marco Bezzecchi to fly the flag, securing fifth on the grid at the Sepang International Circuit.
Earlier in Q1, Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) booked their tickets to the pole position shootout. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) came close to knocking his compatriot out, with just 0.071s splitting the Italians, but Zarco and Pecco did enough to advance.
When the pole battle commenced in Q2, Alex Marquez immediately laid down the marker with a mighty 1:56.697 opening attempt. A pair of KTMs occupied early provisional positions as Acosta and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) slotted into P3 and P4, while Bezzecchi held fifth. Pecco Bagnaia briefly went P6 before a mistake at Turn 1 saw the Italian break his screen in frustration. Meanwhile, Aprilia's Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) briefly traded fast laps at the head of the timing sheets.
That order did not last. The championship leader fired back with red sector times, and despite getting a little out of shape into Turn 14, Marc Marquez jumped to P1, closely followed by Acosta. But Alex Marquez was not finished yet. The younger brother responded to deny Marc and secure his first Saturday morning P1 since the 2025 Catalan GP.
That leaves a bumper front row with Marquez leading Marquez, blue leading red, Alex leading Marc, and Acosta sitting only 0.084s away from pole on the outside. Ogura fronts the second row ahead of P5 starter Bezzecchi, who faces a monumental weekend as he looks to chip away at a 50-point deficit to Marc Marquez with teammate Martin sidelined. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completes the second row in P6.
Further back, Bastianini spearheads Row 3 in P7, joined by Zarco in P8 and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in P9. After navigating Q1, Pecco is forced to start from P10. The returning Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) launches from P11 at the venue of his 2025 podium, while Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) goes from P12 as he battles through shoulder pain.
MotoGP
MotoGP
