MotoGp, Martin approaches the world championship: the favourites of the Malaysian GP

Sepang, 2 November 2024 – It is now a mission impossible for Pecco bagnaia to win the 2024 world championship. Hopes were almost all dashed in the crash in the Sprint Race in Malaysia, when the reigning champion was second in pursuit of Martin and slipped on the hairpin bend of turn 9. Having left other important points on the table, Pecco has now slipped to 29 points from the Spaniard with 62 points available, practically a miracle should happen. Even without the fall, Martin had the possibility of winning the world championship by always coming in second and also in Sepang he is fast, with concreteness, solidity and excellent pace. For bagnaia few things to do except winning all the races until the end and see if Jorge will also make a mistake. But there is not only Martin, because as always Ducati makes many go fast, almost all its riders and even Marc Marquez and Aeneas bastianini are in contention to win the GP, without team play in favor of one of the two challengers. In short, barring sensational twists, the world title will return to Spain.  

Friday

A real shame for Pecco to have fallen in the Sprint Race because since Friday he had shown great speed in Sepang. Best time on the first day of testing with half a tenth on Martin, always very fast and consistent, then again Ducati with Bastianini fourth. Vinales had performed well on Aprilia, fifth, ahead of Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, finally competitive, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Rins, Jack Miller and Marc Marquez, able to narrowly enter directly into Q2 excluding Pedro Acosta and Marco Bezzecchi. Not bad Iannone, second to last, but still only half a second behind sixteenth-placed Raul Fernandez.

Qualifying and starting grid

Pecco's weekend continued very well in qualifying, with a monstrous pole position and the track record and only Jorge Martin, two tenths away, had kept the pace. All the others were almost a second behind, starting from Alex Marquez third, Franco Morbidely fourth and Marc Marquez fifth. Only sixth Aeneas bastianini who still pays for a difficult qualification, but the race pace is good. Excellent Andrea Iannone, five years away from Moto GP, with the seventeenth time and capable of leaving behind Nakagami, Marini, Mir, Fernandez and Savadori. Starting grid Row 1 F.Bagnaia J.Martin A.Marquez Row 2 F.Morbidelli M.Marquez E.Bastianini Row 3 J.Miller F.Quartararo A.Rins Row 4 B.Binder J.Zarco M.Vinales Row 5 P.Acosta M.Bezzecchi R.Fernandez Row 6 A.Espargaro A.Iannone T.Nakagami Row 7 L.Marini J.Mir A.Fernandez Row 8 L.Savadori

The statements of the protagonists

Pecco now appears resigned bagnaia. The number one seemed disheartened in the post Sprint Race, aware that only his opponent can lose the title. Pecco will fight, as always, but the chances are reduced to a minimum. Here is the explanation for the fall: "On that lap I braked more slowly to avoid reaching the limit, so I had to go further and there was a hole and the front closed - his words - That curve is very critical and arriving more slowly I put more angle and that's why I fell". For the title bagnaia seems to believe in it less and less: "29 points are a lot and it's almost impossible for us, only Martin he can lose it. As long as there is a mathematical possibility we will fight to the max as always”, Pecco concluded. Martn, on the other hand, preaches calm. The Spaniard does not want to get distracted despite the big advantage: “We did a good job but it is not over – his comment – ​​I think Pecco will try to give everything and win and I will have to ride as I know how. It will be a long race. Am I calmer? A year ago I was tense and nervous, today I am just nervous. If you are fifteenth you do not have these feelings so I like it this way”. For today, however, there is no celebration given the dramatic condition of Valencia. Jorge's thought: “There is no reason to celebrate seeing how the situation is in Spain…”.

The favourites

Ducati still on the shields at Sepang and there are at least four potentially playing for the victory. Pecco bagnaia He was in the lead on both Friday and Saturday and only left the Sprint Race behind, but in the long race he can certainly be counted among the main group of favourites. Jorge also Martin is going strong, but it wouldn't make sense for him to take too many risks with a 29-point advantage. The start will be crucial. In the sprint, the Spaniard immediately beat Pecco and to have any hope, the Italian will have to go in front of the first corner and leave Jorge to the 'care' of the other Ducati riders. In fact, both Marc Marquez that Aeneas bastianini they have a good pace and can get back into the game for the win, especially the beast that, as always, when the tank is empty goes faster than the others. It is difficult for other bikes to get involved. Fabio Quarterly with Yamaha he is back to being competitive and can fight for a top five together with Alex Marquez,Brad Binder on KTM and Franco Morbidely. Also pay attention to strategies because in a long race you should use the hard on the rear given the high temperatures and high degradation. Tyre management will be fundamental to avoid reaching the hook at the end of the race.

Where to see it on TV

Sunday in Sepang starts at 5 am with the Moto 3 race, then at 6.15 am Moto 2 and at 8 am Moto GP. All live on Sky Sport channels and streaming on Sky Go and Now TV. Delayed free-to-air on TV 8 starting at 11.05 am with Moto 3, 12.20 pm with Moto 2 and 14.05 pm with Moto GP.