MotoGP: Alex Marquez wins the Sepang Sprint

Alex Marquez wins the Sepang Sprint with Bagnaia’s Championship lead reduced to 11 points.

After an exciting qualifying, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) qualified on pole position. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) was in second, with Ducati locking out the front two rows. There was a chance of rain before the Sprint, with clouds looming over the Sepang circuit.

As the lights went out, it was Francesco Bagnaia who led the field through with his teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team)  behind. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) quickly made a move into second at turn four.

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had a magnificent start to the race after qualifying in 10^th. Miller was fourth after one lap and ahead of his teammate Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) had a dreadful start, dropping 10 positions in two laps. The Frenchman qualified in a respectful eighth before dropping down to 18^th.

Alex Marquez made his first move early, passing Bagnaia at the tricky final corner of Sepang. Marquez ran wide, allowing Bagnaia and Martin through and dropping down to third. At turn four, Alex Marquez made his way into second again, passing Martin on the brakes.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed out of the race after losing the front onboard the RC213V. The eight-time World Champion was running in 13^th position with three rounds remaining before he went to Ducati. His teammate, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team), had his own crash in 15^th at the final corner one lap later.

Bastianini had a great end to the race, bridging a gap to Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). The factory Ducati rider overtakes both KTMs again, making his way in fourth behind his teammate.

Bagnaia and Marquez continued to battle with five laps remaining as the front four riders began to bunch together. Alex Marquez took the Sprint lead on the entry to the tricky turn nine.

Jorge Martin found his way through a handful of corners late, allowing Bastianini to take close in. Questions were on whether his teammate would attack and take away points from his teammate in the Championship.

Bagnaia picked up a piece of debris from the circuit, which would stick to his front fairing for two laps.

Fabio Quartararo’s pace did not get any better, continuing to drop back outside the points on his Yamaha. His teammate, Franco Morbidelli, was in 11^th position, battling for a handful of points.

Morbidelli was behind Maverick Vinales, the last rider in the top 10 and the top Aprilia in the Sprint. It was valuable data for everything for Sunday’s race.

On the final lap, all questions were on whether Bastianini would make a move on his teammate for third. Bagnaia did not have the pace and pushed his teammate back into the hands of Brad Binder.

At the line, Alex Marquez came across to win the MotoGP Sprint by a comfortable margin of over one second. Jorge Martin came across the line to pick up valuable points in the Championship. The gap in the Championship is now just 11 points, with the main race still to come on Sunday.

Francesco Bagnaia rounded off the podium after damage limitation in the MotoGP Sprint with work to do for Sunday. Brad Binder managed to get the better of his teammate, rounding out the top five. Jack Miller was in sixth place in an intense sprint for the Australian after an excellent opening part of the race.

Marco Bezzecchi had a solid points finish in seventh as he continues to recover his collarbone injury. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Ducati)  was in eighth ahead of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who scored the final point in ninth.

The heavens opened, and the rain came after the Sprint had finished, with Sunday’s forecast looking unpredictable.

Image credit: Red Bull Content Pool