Sunday MotoGP Race
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) moved closer to an eighth MotoGP world title with a commanding victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix, winning by 4.1 seconds over Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The result marked Marquez’s seventh Grand Prix victory of 2026 and the 80th of his premier-class career.
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) completed the podium after starting from pole position, while championship rival Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) remained sidelined through injury.
Marc Marquez took the holeshot but briefly came under pressure from his younger brother at Turn 4. After retaining the lead, the Ducati rider began building an advantage while Acosta worked his way past Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) to move into third.
Acosta quickly closed on the leading Marquez pair before passing Alex at Turn 9 on Lap 10. The KTM rider then settled into second, leaving Alex to defend third against Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Ogura.
Out front, Marquez continued extending his advantage, eventually crossing the finish line 4.1 seconds clear of Acosta. The Spaniard’s victory increased his championship lead to 44 points over Martin, with Bezzecchi now 67 points behind heading into next weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Ogura finished fourth after passing Bezzecchi, who dropped to sixth following a late mistake at Turn 14. Bastianini claimed fifth, ahead of Bezzecchi, Luca Marini and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Brad Binder and Franco Morbidelli completed the top 10.
Marquez can secure the championship at the Qatar Grand Prix, where the first potential title-deciding opportunity of the season awaits.
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | 20 laps |
| 2 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +4.172s |
| 3 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +5.955s |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +6.759s |
| 5 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +10.896s |
| 6 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +11.259s |
| 7 | Luca Marini | ITA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +17.724s |
| 8 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +17.79s |
| 9 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +23.729s |
| 10 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +25.097s |
Moto2 Race
David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) claimed his second Moto2 victory of 2026 at the Malaysian Grand Prix, leading teammate Daniel Holgado to a dominant one-two finish in the sweltering conditions at Sepang. Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – MSI) completed the podium with his first top-three finish in the category.
Holgado launched from pole position and initially led, with Alonso moving into second ahead of Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2). Alonso passed Piqueras on Lap 2 before taking the lead from Holgado with a move at Turn 4 on Lap 6.
The Colombian gradually established an advantage, opening a 1.1-second gap by Lap 9. However, a significant rear-end slide at Turn 14 with three laps remaining allowed Holgado to close in.
Alonso recovered quickly, rebuilding his advantage to 1.1 seconds heading into the final lap and securing victory without further drama. Holgado followed him across the line to give Aspar a memorable one-two result.
Piqueras finished third, securing a maiden Moto2 podium during an injury-affected rookie season. Guevara took fourth, ahead of championship rival Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), who limited the damage with fifth place.
Guevara’s result reduced Gonzalez’s championship advantage to just 3.5 points, setting up a close fight for the title.
Adrian Huertas claimed sixth, ahead of Collin Veijer and Ivan Ortola, while Celestino Vietti and Alex Escrig completed the top 10.
2026 Malaysian Moto2 Results
| 1 | David Alonso | COL | CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team (Kalex) | 35:44.732s |
| 2 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team (Kalex) | +1.932s |
| 3 | Angel Piqueras | SPA | QJMOTOR – MSI (Kalex) | +3.565s |
| 4 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | +6.182s |
| 5 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +14.130s |
| 6 | Adrian Huertas | SPA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +16.651s |
| 7 | Collin Veijer | NED | Red Bull KTM Ajo (Kalex) | +17.705s |
| 8 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – MSI (Kalex) | +17.981s |
| 9 | Celestino Vietti | ITA | Beta Tools SpeedRS Team (Boscoscuro) | +18.553s |
| 10 | Alex Escrig | SPA | KLINT Racing Team (Forward) | +19.175s |
Moto3 Race
Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) celebrated his first victory as Moto3 World Champion with an 11th win of the 2026 season at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) finished second, ahead of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo), while home favorite Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) narrowly missed the podium in fourth.
Quiles took the holeshot, but David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) quickly moved into the lead. Danish also made an early charge, climbing to second on Lap 2 as the leading group remained tightly bunched.
Quiles reclaimed the lead on Lap 5 and gradually built an advantage, eventually establishing a three-second margin. Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium positions intensified, with Danish, Pratama, Carpe and Almansa exchanging places.
Danish looked set for a home podium during a frantic final lap, briefly moving into second before dropping back. He subsequently passed Carpe for third but lost the position again at Turn 14. A final-corner attempt went wide, allowing Carpe to reclaim third.
Quiles took the flag ahead of Pratama and Carpe, with Danish fourth and Almansa fifth.
Almansa’s result extended his advantage over third in the championship standings to 23 points with two rounds remaining. Brian Uriarte finished ninth.
2026 Malaysian Moto3 Results
| 1 | Maximo Quiles | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | 33:07.634s |
| 2 | Veda Pratama | INA | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +3.734s |
| 3 | Alvaro Carpe | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +4.184s |
| 4 | Hakim Danish | MAL | AEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +4.410s |
| 5 | David Almansa | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +4.914s |
| 6 | Joel Esteban | SPA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +9.403s |
| 7 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +9.514s |
| 8 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +9.533s |
| 9 | Brian Uriarte | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +9.650s |
| 10 | Eddie O’Shea | GBR | GRYD – Racing (Honda) | +12.064s |
2026 Malaysian MotoGP News—Saturday
Martin withdraws
Jorge Martin’s hopes of winning this year’s MotoGP World Championship are hanging by a thread after he withdrew from the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday morning.
The Spaniard did just eight laps in FP2 before realising he didn’t have the strength or endurance to challenge for any significant result in Malaysia. “I tried my best to ride. I felt I could ride with almost no pain but for maybe one lap. After that I started to have a lot of pain. I couldn’t be constant. Watching the lap times and my performance we decided to stop.”
He travelled back to Spain on Saturday to resume intense physiotherapy. His aim is to try again next week. “We have Qatar next week and my target is to go there.” Plus, he admitted he has already given up on the championship. “Maybe I can win it but for me it’s already lost. For sure I will fight until the end.”
Mir makes a comeback
Joan Mir showed his face at Sepang after missing four rounds with a mystery virus. The 2020 champ revealed a stress-related virus was causing him to lose his vision before he stepped away after retiring out of the San Marino Grand Prix.
“I simply needed to stop because I had some vision problems. At the beginning we didn’t know what really was happening, also related to the tiredness, quite extreme. And it was a process that was getting worse and worse in the last races that I did in the first part of the season. Mentally it was tough because it was not like a bone that you understand more or less the timings.
“The cause was related on one problem that I had in the past with the vision, that with the stress of the races was getting worse for this reason. And also the tiredness was related on this thing.”
Sepang track surface copping flack
The Sepang International Circuit came under fire from riders on Friday with the general consensus being it wasn’t up to scratch for a MotoGP event. “Not it’s a motocross track,” said Fabio Di Giannantonio. Luca Marini added, “Everything apart from Turns 7 and 8 is completely destroyed. Stones are coming from the bikes in front.”
The Circuit had intended to resurface earlier this year. But Cycle News understands delays due to the ongoing war in the Ukraine meant the track couldn’t get the right bitumen sent out to Malaysia. It preferred not to purchase a lower quality alternative.
Plus, the Bahrain Formula1 GP being held here in early October did little to help the surface.
“However, long lead times and the availability of materials meant that the works had to be postponed,” read an IRTA statement issued to all teams. “When it became clear that the preferred supplier would not be able to complete the resurfacing before the Grand Prix, it was agreed that maintaining the required quality standards was preferable to pursuing an alternative solution
“In addition, sections of both straights were damaged during cleaning works carried out following the previous Formula 1 Grand Prix. This damage was not reported to Race Direction prior to the event and was identified during the initial track inspection.”
MotoGP Sprint Race
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) claimed victory in a dramatic Malaysian Grand Prix Sprint, holding off Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) by just over half a second in a race complicated by intermittent rain.
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) initially moved ahead of Marquez at the start, while Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) grabbed the early lead. Acosta also passed the championship leader before the end of the opening lap.
Rain arrived on Lap 2, prompting race control to display the white flag and allow riders to change motorcycles for wet-weather setups. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team) was among those heading for the pits, although his replacement machine was not ready. Alex Marquez, meanwhile, crashed at Turn 14 while leading, handing the advantage to Ogura.
With conditions remaining predominantly dry, most of the leading group elected to stay on slick tires. Joan Mir, Iker Lecuona and Franco Morbidelli gambled on wet-weather machinery, but the decision ultimately failed to pay off.
Acosta moved into the lead with four laps remaining, while Marquez worked his way past Ogura for second. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) followed suit, passing Ogura to secure third.
Acosta maintained his advantage through the closing laps to secure his second Sprint victory of the season. Marquez finished second, extending his championship lead to 19 points over the absent Jorge Martin, while Bezzecchi sits 52 points behind the Spaniard.
Ogura finished fourth, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Brad Binder, Diogo Moreira and Enea Bastianini completed the points-paying positions.
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | 20:04.098s |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +0.578s |
| 3 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +1.310s |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +1.793s |
| 5 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +5.053s |
| 6 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +8.330s |
| 7 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +8.484s |
| 8 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR (RC213V)* | +9.001s |
| 9 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +9.101s |
| 10 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | +9.545s |
MotoGP Qualifying
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) secured pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix with a late flying lap in qualifying at Sepang, edging championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) by just 0.070 seconds.
Alex posted a best time of 1:56.493 to claim his first Saturday pole position since the 2025 Catalan Grand Prix. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed the front row, just 0.084 seconds off pole in a closely contested session that saw the top five separated by only 0.175 seconds.
Qualifying began with news that Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) had withdrawn from the remainder of the weekend. The 2024 World Champion had been attempting to race despite a fractured wrist sustained in the Phillip Island Sprint, but discomfort ultimately forced his withdrawal.
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) advanced from Q1 to join the leading 10 riders in the pole-position shootout. Bagnaia, last year’s Sepang polesitter, struggled in Q2 and eventually qualified 10th.
Alex Marquez initially established the benchmark with a 1:56.697, before his brother Marc responded with a series of fast sectors to take provisional pole. Acosta also moved into contention, while Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) briefly threatened the top position.
Alex had the final say, however, producing his best lap late in the session to displace Marc and secure pole.
Ogura qualified fourth, ahead of Bezzecchi in fifth, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) sixth. Enea Bastianini, Zarco and Franco Morbidelli completed the top nine, while Bagnaia will start from 10th.
Bezzecchi heads into the race weekend trailing Marc Marquez by 50 points in the championship standings.
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | 1:56.493s |
| 2 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +0.070s |
| 3 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.084s |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.124s |
| 5 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.175s |
| 6 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +0.349s |
| 7 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.477s |
| 8 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | +0.523s |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +0.775s |
| 10 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +0.794s |
Moto2 Qualifying
Pole position by 0.541s? That’s unheard of when the topic is Moto2, but that’s exactly the margin Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) clinched pole by at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia after notching up a blistering 2:02.875 in a Q2 session that saw rookie Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – MSI) claim a career-best P2, and title-hunting Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) stick it on the front row.
How significant that P3 will be for Guevara is unknown, but with World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) riding wounded after his Friday crash and now starting from P9, the onus is on the rider 5.5 points away in the championship to pounce on Sunday.
Fronting the second row after coming through the jungle of Q1 is Colombia’s David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team), with Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) and Dutchman Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing a rapid Row 2.
Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) was another of the Q1 graduates; the Spaniard claimed P7 in Q2, as he and Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) sit ahead of Gonzalez on the third row. Right behind the title race leader on the grid? Third in the championship Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI).
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team (Kalex) | 2:02.875s |
| 2 | Angel Piqueras | SPA | QJMOTOR – MSI (Kalex) | +0.541s |
| 3 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | +0.611s |
| 4 | David Alonso | COL | CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.616s |
| 5 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.641s |
| 6 | Collin Veijer | NED | Red Bull KTM Ajo (Kalex) | +0.685s |
| 7 | Alex Escrig | SPA | KLINT Racing Team (Forward) | +0.789s |
| 8 | Daniel Munoz | SPA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.843s |
| 9 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.859s |
| 10 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – MSI (Kalex) | +0.964s |
Moto3 Qualifying
Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) claimed pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix, leading a closely contested Moto3 qualifying session at Sepang with a 2:10.396 lap.
The 2026 World Champion edged out Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo), while home favorite Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) secured third to become the first Malaysian rider to qualify on the front row since 2012.
Quiles left his charge until the closing stages of Q2, taking the top spot on his fifth lap to secure his first pole since the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen in June.
Uriarte initially crossed the line second, benefiting from a slipstream during his final flying lap, although he subsequently crashed at Turn 2. His time was sufficient to retain second place.
Danish’s third-place result provided a highlight for the home crowd, with the Malaysian becoming the first local rider to achieve a front-row start since Zulfahmi Khairuddin in 2012.
David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) qualified fourth, ahead of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA).
Australian Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing) secured seventh, with Indonesia’s Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) eighth. Adrian Fernandez and David Muñoz completed the top 10.
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 | Maximo Quiles | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | 2:10.396s |
| 2 | Brian Uriarte | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.084s |
| 3 | Hakim Danish | MAL | AEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +0.133s |
| 4 | David Almansa | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.175s |
| 5 | Alvaro Carpe | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.208s |
| 6 | Matteo Bertelle | ITA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.448s |
| 7 | Joel Kelso | AUS | GRYD Racing (Honda) | +0.459s |
| 8 | Veda Pratama | INA | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +0.465s |
| 9 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.702s |
| 10 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.733s |
2026 Malaysian MotoGP News—Friday
Martin returns
Just six days on from breaking a bone in his right wrist, Jorge Martin was back on track at Sepang. The heroic Spaniard was pleased with his feeling in FP1 but retired from Practice after just three laps due to a lack of strength.
“It could be worse…it could be better,” he said on Thursday. “We achieved the first step, which is to try and ride and then see my condition. My wrist is broken so for sure it’s really difficult, really painful. I will try because I am in the title fight, otherwise I would be at the house in a cast for one month. But the only thing I can do is try. It’s the right hand; where is the brake and the throttle and it’s a right corner circuit lets say, so it doesn’t look great but let’s see.”
Title rival Marc Marquez was confident Martin would be competitive in spite of the injury. “If Martin is on the racetrack, he will be fast.”
Qatar to go ahead
As it stands, the Grand Prix of Qatar is set to go ahead next week despite protests from across the MotoGP paddock.
All the MotoGP riders met with team managers at the Sepang International Circuit on Wednesday to understand the situation. Then they met with MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta the following day to seek assurances. With US President threatening to resume hostilities with Iran after the midterm elections on November, 3rd fears are understandable. “If there’s a 1 per cent chance of something happening, we shouldn’t go, because we’re talking about war here,” said Augusto Fernandez.
But Johann Zarco spelled out MotoGP’s dichotomy. “We cannot cancel the GP, because officially, there is no reason to cancel it in this country, even if this country is not far from a war zone. But we have a contract and we cannot go against our obligations. That’s why I understand that many people can be worried about going to Qatar, but at the moment the facts are that everything is normal.”
Miller unimpressed at Phillip Island outcome
Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix was an outcome no one wanted. As well as being the first day of cancelled racing action at a GP since 2018, teams cancelled all press duties on the Sunday, while the series organizer was unwilling to allow any figure of authority to speak to the press.
While many accepted the visibility was poor in both Melbourne and Phillip Island throughout race day, which meant the medical helicopters couldn’t get in and out of the track safely, home hero Jack Miller was disgusted with the situation.
“I don’t feel the need to get into it now, but you’ve got your sense about you,” he said at Sepang on Thursday. “You know there’s more than fucking one hospital in Melbourne around that area. That’s one thing. I mean, apart from many other things. It wasn’t that the rain was bad all day. There were windows there where we could have gone racing. But anyway, it is what it is.”
Friday MotoGP
Before the session had even reached a third of the way to being done, the top two in the Championship were making headlines. Martin’s day was done after three laps and the decision was taken that the #89 will sit out the remainder of Practice, although he’ll hit the track tomorrow morning for FP2 to see how he is on Sprint Saturday. Should he take part for the rest of the weekend, then the 2024 World Champion will find himself in Q1. Then, at Turn 15, Marc Marquez crashed, tucking the front and sliding through the gravel, although he was soon back on his feet.
Into the second half of the session and it was Di Giannantonio leading the way ahead of Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR). All of the fastest lap times were being set early on with riders opting for long runs in the first 40 minutes or so. After his fall, Marc Marquez was back out on track and provisionally P8 with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. However, not for long, as the Championship leader blasted in a 1’57.000 to go top of the timesheets by nearly four tenths of a second.
There were a whole load of changes in the top ten with just over ten minutes remaining, with Acosta, Bezzecchi and Bastianini all moving into the top five whilst Ogura, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) also found improvements. Three minutes on the clock and Ogura continued to improve with a move up to P3 whilst the yellow flags were out at Turns 7 and 8 for a late fall for Zarco. Then, Turn 1 caught out double World Champion Bagnaia, who tucked the front; the crashes confirmed both riders’ presence in Q1 tomorrow.
Nobody could get on terms with Marc Marquez though as the reigning World Champion led a Marquez 1-2 ahead of Alex in second and looked good not only on one lap but with race pace too. Ogura’s late improvement brought the Japanese to third by the end of play, ahead of Acosta and Di Giannantonio. Bezzecchi had a steady start to bag a Q2 spot in sixth ahead of a strong showing from Red Bull KTM Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales, with three KTMs going directly into Q2 for the first time since Hungary last year. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and a returning Mir who was welcomed back with P10.
Zarco’s crash late on cost him as he missed out by 0.187s, just 0.002s ahead of Pecco in 12th. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) had a big front-end save at Turn 15, which cost him any improvement and thus finds himself in Q1, whilst the best Yamaha was Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) just behind him in P14. Martin sitting out the rest of the session after three laps leaves him in Q1 and he hopes that he can be competitive on Saturday.
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—Friday MotoGP
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | 1’57.000s | |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +0.109s | |
| 3 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.167s | |
| 4 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.380s | |
| 5 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +0.442s | |
| 6 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.475s | |
| 7 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.545s | |
| 8 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.547s | |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP25) | +0.582s | |
| 10 | Joan Mir | SPA | Honda HRC Castrol (RC213V) | +0.618s |
Friday Moto2
After a fast crash in Free Practice 1, World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) bounced back in style in the all-important Moto2 Practice session to top the timesheets on Friday at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Gonzalez’s 2:03.737 was good enough to see off the Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) threat by 0.144s, with Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) completing the top three.
Holgado was another rider to crash this morning, but like Gonzalez, didn’t show any ill effects from the tip-off in the afternoon stint. Fourth place went to Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), who was the only other rider to get below 0.7s away from his title rival’s table-topping time. The exact gap between the title-chasing duo? 0.234s.
2022 Moto2 Malaysian GP winner Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) rounded out the top five ahead of the rider third in the overall standings, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI). And it was double delight in the MSI box because Ortola’s teammate Angel Piqueras finished P7 to front the rookie charge in Moto2 Practice.
Some of the big headlines came further down the order, though. Two of our 2025 Moto2 Malaysian GP podium finishers, David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), ended the session in P18 and P19 to face Q1, and they’ll be joined in Q1 by British GP winner Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) after the Czech star missed out on the top 14 because his second fastest lap was slower than Adrian Huertas’ (Italtrans Racing Team) – the duo both setting 2:04.735.
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—Friday Moto2
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | 2′ 03.737s |
| 2 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.144s |
| 3 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.206s |
| 4 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | +0.234s |
| 5 | Tony Arbolino | ITA | REDS Fantic Racing (Kalex) | +0.711s |
| 6 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – MSI (Kalex) | +0.726s |
| 7 | Angel Piqueras | SPA | QJMOTOR – MSI (Kalex) | +0.772s |
| 8 | Collin Veijer | NED | Red Bull KTM Ajo (Kalex) | +0.870s |
| 9 | Daniel Munoz | SPA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.902s |
| 10 | Taiyo Furusato | JPN | Idemitsu Honda Team Asia (Kalex) | +0.905s |
Friday Moto3
After a tricky start to the day, David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) paved his way to P1 to draw first blood in Moto3 in Malaysia. Aiming to consolidate P2 overall in the standings, the #22 set the fastest time of the day to head the field whilst the homecoming tour is well underway for Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) with the Malaysian fourth at the chequered flag.
A 2’11.427 saw the Spaniard clear by less than a tenth of a second from rookie star Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3), taking to Sepang for the first time. 0.069s split the top two whilst less than a tenth covered the top three with Phillip Island polesitter Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) continuing his form in third and taking top Honda honours. Danish was a star in fourth ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) whilst, like Almansa, Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA) turned around a tricky FP1 to round out the top six in Practice.
Heavyweight names are scattered further back with the likes of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P7, teammate Brian Uriarte in P9 and David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in P10. 2026 World Champion Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was only 11th whereas big names missed the cut all together. US GP winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) will face the Q1 music in 15th, along with Argentinean pairing Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).
2026 Malaysian MotoGP Results—Friday Moto3
| 1 | David Almansa | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | 2′ 11.427s |
| 2 | Rico Salmela | FIN | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM) | +0.069s |
| 3 | Veda Pratama | INA | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +0.092s |
| 4 | Hakim Danish | MAL | AEON Credit- MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +0.146s |
| 5 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.162s |
| 6 | Matteo Bertelle | ITA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.198s |
| 7 | Alvaro Carpe | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.304s |
| 8 | Joel Esteban | SPA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.385s |
| 9 | Brian Uriarte | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.431s |
| 10 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.434s |
