Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is back on top! In a tense dry-wet showdown at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, the #37 got his elbows out at the front to fend off a three-strong group and take the spoils with half a second in hand. Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) takes second and increases his points lead after duking it out in the group, with key rival Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) locking out the Saturday rostrum.
Early leader Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed out in the flag-to-flag encounter, which saw some riders gamble on a switch but the front group stay the course on dry tyres.
As the lights went out, it was a drag race in the first few metres but Alex Marquez managed to arrive into Turn 1 with some breathing space, taking the lead as instead, Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) attacked Marc Marquez and made it stick – sticky as it was around Turns 2 and 3 between the duo. Marc Marquez was shuffled down to third and before the end of Lap 1, front row starter Acosta had also barged his way past the #93. Bezzecchi, meanwhile, tailed his Championship-leading quarry.
Drama was in the air on Lap 2. As the field headed round the final sector, the white flag came out – indicating spots of rain on track and signifying that riders were allowed to pit to change bikes to their second machines – with wet setups.
Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team) headed in to do just that – but when the Australian arrived at the box the machine wasn’t prepped yet. Much more drama then hit as Alex Marquez, who had been holding a clear lead despite the spits of rain, suddenly slid out at Turn 14 – rider perfectly ok but bike cartwheeling across the gravel. His Sprint was over, and Ogura led.
The #79 had Acosta hot on his heels, with marc Marquez next up behind the duo. The rain was increasing around Turns 4, 5 and 6, but the rest of the track remained pretty dry. With the limited laps of a Sprint – and only six remaining – was it worthwhile to pit?
Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), Iker Lecuona (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took the gamble at the end of their Lap 4, as the lead trio continued onto Lap 5. Ogura leading Acosta, gaining metres where it was dry then losing a couple in the damp, with Marc Marquez maintaining a watching brief – and Bezzecchi gaining.
With four to go, that dynamic changed. The gaps between the top three started to seriously close, with Bezzecchi losing some ground in P4. The rain was increasing as the lap count went down. But then the switch was flicked as Acosta struck for the lead.
Ogura hit back but the #37 had the answer, taking over in front as Marquez sliced past Ogura for second. The shuffle bought Bez some metres – and it wasn’t over. Ogura shot down the inside of Marquez at Turn 4, but the #93 attacked again at five, slicing cleanly but brutally up the inside. This time it was job done.
Bezzecchi needed no second invite to make his own gains. The #72 was next past the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP machine at Turn 9 and made it stick, taking over in third. But the conditions remained stable enough, the switch hadn’t paid off for those on wets, and the drama had had its day – for today. Acosta crossed the line for his second Tissot Sprint win just over half a second clear, with the two key title rivals remaining in the weekend forced to follow him home.
Marc Marquez takes second to increase his lead to 19 points over the absent Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), with Bezzecchi’s P3 seeing his deficit to the top increase to 52 points.
Ogura was forced to settle for fourth after getting his elbows out, impressing if not taking that rostrum finish, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in P5 a little further back. There was a similar gap back to Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who was hot on the #63’s heels. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) was next up with just a tenth in hand over Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who completed the Sprint points.
That’s a wrap on a dramatic Saturday showdown. Acosta returns to the top step, Marc Marquez makes some gains, Bezzecchi stays in contention – and Alex Marquez gears up to try and get some Sunday revenge. Join us for more in the Grand Prix race at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia!
MotoGP Malaysian GP Tissot Sprint results!