Alex Marquez Takes Pole at Sepang, Jorge Martin Out With Injury
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- Alex Marquez mengamankan posisi terdepan di MotoGP Malaysia setelah mencatat waktu tercepat di sesi kualifikasi.
- Jorge Martin, rival terdekat Marc Marquez dalam perburuan gelar, mundur dari balapan dan kembali ke Spanyol untuk menjalani perawatan.
- Dengan hanya 20 pembalap yang tampil, persaingan di Sepang diprediksi berlangsung sengit namun peluang Marc Marquez memperlebar keunggulan terbuka lebar.
Alex Marquez secured the top spot for the Malaysian MotoGP after setting the fastest time in Saturday's qualifying session. The Gresini rider is chasing back-to-back wins at the Sepang Circuit, repeating his success in the 2025 edition.
On the front row, he will be joined by his older brother, Marc Marquez, who currently holds a 19-point lead in the championship standings. The Marquez brothers' pairing is in the spotlight due to the potential for a family duel rarely seen on track.
However, the title fight has seen a significant shift. Jorge Martin, Marc's closest challenger, has been forced to abandon his plans to race at Sepang. The Spanish rider has returned to his country for intensive treatment and hopes to return at the Qatar Grand Prix next week.
The front row is completed by KTM's Pedro Acosta, who won the sprint race, marking his second career sprint victory. Meanwhile, Ai Ogura will lead a depleted Aprilia lineup in fourth, followed by factory team rider Marco Bezzecchi. VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio completes the second row.
Enea Bastianini will start the race from seventh, ahead of Honda rider Johann Zarco. Franco Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia occupy ninth and tenth respectively. With the current grid composition, the Sepang race is expected to deliver intriguing dynamics, especially with the absence of several key riders.
This Malaysian MotoGP will feature only 20 riders. Raul Fernandez joins Martin on the absentee list after attempting to ride at Sepang but having to withdraw after a few laps on Friday. Fermin Aldeguer and Toprak Razgatlioglu will also not race, but the Gresini and Pramac teams have prepared replacement riders, namely Iker Lecuona and Augusto Fernandez.
For Marc Marquez, the situation is a golden opportunity to widen his gap at the top of the standings. With Martin absent, he can add maximum points without direct pressure from his closest rival. However, Alex Marquez, who was impressive in qualifying, will certainly not sit idle and is aiming for the best result in front of the Malaysian crowd.
The Malaysian MotoGP will test the riders' consistency for the rest of the season. Will Marc Marquez use this momentum to strengthen his grip on the top, or will Alex Marquez steal the spotlight with back-to-back wins? The answer will unfold on the Sepang track.
