MotoGP: Martin and A. Marquez top Friday Sepang Practice
After Jorge Martin topped practice 1, Gresini rider Alex Marquez (shown above) led second practice for the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix, both riders on Ducati bikes.
It’s advantage, Alex Marquez after the opening day of action at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. The Spaniard was looking strong from the off and set a scintillating 1:57.823 in his late Practice time attack to take the top spot after falling just short of the all-time lap record.
Marquez’s pace saw him deny title contender Jorge Martin of a Friday clean-sweep. The ‘Martinator’ topped Practice 1 but fell just 0.174s short of his compatriot during the Friday afternoon time attack battle.
Martin set the fastest lap of MotoGP Free Practice 1 in Malaysia while title rival and Ducati stablemate Francesco Bagnaia ended up 15th on the timesheet in Practice 1 and 8th overall for the day.
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) enjoyed a positive return to form as the Aussie had the bit between his teeth in Practice to take the final spot inside the top three.
Friday Combined Practice Times
| Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARQUEZ Alex | 73 | SPA | Team Gresini Racing MotoGP | Ducati | 1’57.823 |
| 2 | MARTIN Jorge | 89 | SPA | Pramac Racing | Ducati | 0.174 |
| 3 | MILLER Jack | 43 | AUS | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | 0.409 |
| 4 | BINDER Brad | 33 | RSA | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | 0.484 |
| 5 | VINALES Maverick | 12 | SPA | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 0.489 |
| 6 | MARINI Luca | 10 | ITA | Mooney VR46 Racing Team | Ducati | 0.511 |
| 7 | QUARTARARO Fabio | 20 | FRA | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 0.576 |
| 8 | BAGNAIA Francesco | 1 | ITA | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | 0.597 |
| 9 | BEZZECCHI Marco | 72 | ITA | Mooney VR46 Racing Team | Ducati | 0.627 |
| 10 | ZARCO Johann | 5 | FRA | Pramac Racing | Ducati | 0.664 |
| 11 | MORBIDELLI Franco | 21 | ITA | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 0.748 |
| 12 | BASTIANINI Enea | 23 | ITA | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | 0.782 |
| 13 | FERNANDEZ Augusto | 37 | SPA | Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing | KTM | 0.855 |
| 14 | DI GIANNANTONIO Fabio | 49 | ITA | Team Gresini Racing MotoGP | Ducati | 0.886 |
| 15 | MARQUEZ Marc | 93 | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 0.965 |
| 16 | MIR Joan | 36 | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1.079 |
| 17 | ESPARGARO Pol | 44 | SPA | Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing | KTM | 1.151 |
| 18 | FERNANDEZ Raul | 25 | SPA | RNF MotoGP Team | Aprilia | 1.201 |
| 19 | OLIVEIRA Miguel | 88 | POR | RNF MotoGP Team | Aprilia | 1.327 |
| 20 | ESPARGARO Aleix | 41 | SPA | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia | 1.903 |
| 21 | NAKAGAMI Takaaki | 30 | JPN | LCR Honda | Honda | 1.932 |
| 22 | BAUTISTA Alvaro | 19 | SPA | Ducati Test Team | Ducati | 2.547 |
| 23 | LECUONA Iker | 27 | SPA | LCR Honda | Honda | 2.628 |