MotoGP: Márquez wins as Michelin shrugs off Sepang heat
Round 19 of the MotoGPTM World Championship was won by Marc Marquez who will have a chance to wrap up the 2026 title in Qatar. The Ducati Lenovo Team star was joined on the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia podium by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). Michelin's tires overcame Sepang's hot weather to deliver performance, grip and consistency all weekend. Read on for more about what happened at the MalaysianGP.
Sunday's grand prix saw Márquez produce an absolute masterclass. Pouncing from second on the grid, he eased ahead through Turn 1 and then took advantage of his soft Michelin Power Slicks to pull assertively clear of his chasers. Combining speed with consistency as the afternoon's air and track temperatures soared to 36°C and 57°C respectively, he went on to beat Acosta over the line by more than four seconds.
The Spaniard's 80th premier-class victory has put him in a strong position to claim an eighth MotoGP™ crown, perhaps even next weekend in Qatar. For that to happen, he will need to score at least 30 points more than rival Jorge Martín (forced to sit out Sepang after braking his right arm in Australia) and eight more than the latter's Aprilia Racing team-mate Marco Bezzecchi.
Saturday's sprint winner Acosta secured a fine second place at Sepang after passing pole-sitter Alex Marquez halfway into the grand prix. Behind the all-Spanish top-three, Ai Ogura (TrackHouse MotoGP) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) were the other top-five finishers.
The stifling heat put the riders, bikes and tires to a punishing test over all three days, adding to the challenges already inherent in Sepang's fast, demanding layout and abrasive surface. Michelin's Power Slicks rose to the occasion, though, to provide a high level of grip and consistency throughout as the entire field opted for the soft compound front and rear for both races.
Marc Marquez is now 44 and 67 points clear respectively of Aprilia's Martin and Bezzecchi.
Next round: Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, Lusail (November 6-8).