Hot and humid are two words that define the conditions at Sepang International Circuit. Challenging for the riders with a whole lot of horsepower and top speeds well over 300km/h, the Malaysian GP pre-event saw some of the grid back to basics as they swapped their engines for bicycles…and took on the Malaysian heat in a different kind of race.
Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Yakhnich), and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini duo Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl headed the line up for the race round Sepang with a difference – joined by home heroes Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) and Drive M7 SIC Racing Team's Adam Norrodin and Jakub Kornfeil. With the locals used to the heat and the MotoGP™ contingent out with a point to prove, competitive spirits were high – as always - as the riders prepared to head out on the 35km ride.
After the kilometers were completed and some serious sweat expended, the winners emerged victorious in the first race of the weekend with the Espargaro brothers leading the way. With a bit of time to cool off ahead of track action getting underway on Friday at 9:00 local time (GMT+8), it was then back to the box after the pre-event shakedown – ready to get back into their leathers and take on newly resurfaced Sepang International Circuit once again at higher speeds – with higher stakes.