Marc Marquez continues to set the pace at the Malaysian Grand Prix. After dominating the opening free practice session, the Ducati rider topped Friday afternoon’s Practice at Sepang with a fastest lap of 1:57.000, overcoming an early crash to secure first place ahead of his brother Alex Marquez and Ai Ogura.
The championship leader finished just 0.109 seconds ahead of the Gresini Ducati rider, while Aprilia’s Japanese rookie claimed third place, 0.167 seconds off the pace. It was another impressive performance from Marquez, who maintained his competitive rhythm despite crashing at Turn 15 with approximately 44 minutes remaining.
The incident left the Spaniard with only one motorcycle available for the remainder of the session, but it did little to disrupt his programme. Marquez improved his lap time in the closing stages, securing the top spot and direct qualification for Q2.
Jorge Martin Forced to Stop as Aprilia Faces a Difficult Weekend
While Marquez had plenty of reasons to celebrate, Jorge Martin endured a much more complicated afternoon. The Aprilia rider, returning from the wrist injury sustained at Phillip Island, was forced to abandon the session after a near-crash at Turn 12.
Despite receiving medical clearance to compete in Malaysia, Martin completed only part of the session before returning to the garage and remaining there for the rest of the afternoon.
The setback could have significant implications for the championship battle, with Martin trailing Marquez by just ten points in the overall standings.
His participation in the remainder of the weekend remains uncertain, while his early withdrawal means he has missed out on direct qualification for Q2.
Bagnaia Crashes Late and Misses Direct Q2 Qualification
Francesco Bagnaia also endured a frustrating session, finishing 12th after crashing during the closing stages.
The Italian Ducati rider went down just as several competitors were improving their lap times on fresh tyres, preventing him from making a final attempt to break into the top ten.
As a result, the two-time MotoGP world champion will have to compete in Q1 on Saturday, adding another challenge to a weekend in which starting position could prove crucial.
Pedro Acosta finished fourth aboard his KTM, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio, who had briefly led the session earlier in the afternoon.
Marco Bezzecchi secured sixth place, 0.475 seconds behind Marquez, followed by Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales.
For Viñales, the result represented an important milestone, marking his first direct Q2 qualification since suffering an injury at the 2025 German Grand Prix.
Franco Morbidelli and Joan Mir completed the top ten, with the latter securing the final direct Q2 spot for Honda.
Outside the leading group, Johann Zarco finished 11th after a late crash, while Diogo Moreira ended the session in 13th despite briefly occupying the top of the timesheets.
Friday’s action at Sepang once again highlighted Ducati’s competitiveness, with Marc Marquez demonstrating his ability to deliver a decisive lap even after an unexpected setback.
For Bagnaia and Martin, however, the Malaysian Grand Prix has begun with more questions than answers, setting up a potentially decisive Saturday in the championship battle.