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©1999-2023 Crash Media Group
The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form.
2023 Malaysian MotoGP: Friday practice - LIVE UPDATES
Just 13 points separate reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia from title rival Jorge Martin heading into the final triple header of the MotoGP season, starting at Sepang this weekend.
While Bagnaia holds a narrow points advantage, momentum is back with Martin after taking a perfect double of Sprint and GP victories last time out in Thailand.
However, Martin was also among several riders to receive an official warning for low tyre pressure in the Buriram GP. Another infringement in the remaining rounds will result in the Pramac rider receiving a 3s post-race time penalty.
Aside from the title fight, the big news this weekend is a wild-card entry for reigning World Superbike champion Alvaro Bautista. The Spaniard, making his first MotoGP start since 2018, is riding a factory spec Ducati GP23 in Aruba.It colours.
Bautista is not the only WorldSBK rider on the grid with Alex Rins, who missed Thailand after undergoing further leg surgery, replaced by Iker Lecuona for both Sepang and next weekend’s Qatar round.
Sepang was the venue for the opening pre-season test of the year, in February, when Luca Marini (fastest), Francesco Bagnaia, Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin were all covered by 0.315s at the top of the timesheets.
Weather forecasts currently warn of an increasing risk of rain as the weekend goes on, rising to over 90% by lunchtime on Sunday…
A. Marquez tops Friday practice from Martin, Jack Miller, Binder and Vinales.
Wow! A. Marquez goes close to two tenths quicker than Martin and will end Friday Practice fastest.
Martin dips below the 1m 58s barrier to go fastest with a minute remaining.
Binder and A. Marquez were set to destroy the current fastest lap but a yellow flag for Raul Fernandez's crash has stopped them from improving.
It's Alex Marquez who is back atop the timingsheets, while Bagnaia has moved up to P4.
I don't believe this. Espargaro is down at turn five which is a very quick place to fall.
Zarco makes it a Pramac Ducati 1-2 as he goes just +0.007s off Martin's time.
Vinales, who had a new medium rear tyre, has just moved up to third spot.
Big moment for Bagnaia on the exit of turn four as his Ducati got very unstable.
Aleix Espargaro is down again. It's turn nine this time.
He does but it's only P11 for the South African rider.
Brad Binder is really pushing as he slides the rear coming out of turn 15. The KTM rider is set to improve...
Jorge Martin goes back to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:58.573s.
Only Marc Marquez is within half a second of ffuture team-mate Alex Marquez, who leads thanks to a brilliant time of 1:58.705s.
Aprilia's tough start to the Malaysian MotoGP is continuing as Maverick Vinales is currently 21st. Espargaro, who has returned to pit lane is 15th as most of the grid has joined the Spaniard in returning to their pit boxes.
It was a front-end washout for the Aprilia rider.
Turn one fall for Aleix Espargaro. It's his second of the day.
Marc Marquez is currently fastest with a time of 1:59.513s. His brother Alex is second ahead of Francesco Bagnaia.
Alex Marquez closes to within just 0.049s of Martin, but the Pramac Ducati rider finishes FP1 on top.
Zarco, Morbidelli and Quartararo complete the top five.
Martin uses the mediums to blast 0.5s clear of the field with the first sub 2m lap of the weekend in the closing minutes.
Miguel Oliveira, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi are the only riders to have switched to medium tyres front and rear. The rest have the soft front and hard rears.
Quartararo closes to within 0.079s of Morbidelli to recreate the rare Yamaha one-two.