SEPANG: Jorge Martin put himself within touching distance of the MotoGP championship after a sprint victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday, increasing his lead over Francesco Bagnaia in the standings to 29 points after the Ducati rider crashed out.

Gresini Racing’s Marc Marquez finished second in Sepang, while Bagnaia’s team-mate Enea Bastianini rounded out the podium.

Martin (Pramac Racing) is on 465 points in the drivers’ standings heading into the season’s penultimate race in Malaysia on Sunday, while Bagnaia is second on 436, and can seal the title on if he earns nine more points than the Italian two-time reigning champion.

“I think last year I wasn’t ready to win,” said the 26-year-old Martin, who came second in the title race behind his rival last year. “This season I am more mature. It is a privilege to be here at this point with this advantage, but nothing is over till it’s over.”

The race began under dark clouds at the Sepang International Circuit and race directors waved the white flag before the start amid light showers, allowing riders to swap their bikes.

Martin’s bid for the title this season has been powered by his penchant for perfect starts. The Spaniard once again had a dream launch, holding the inside line to surge past polesitter Bagnaia into the lead on the first turn.

“It has been an amazing weekend so far. Today was a difficult race, actually. I started very well,” Martin said, adding that he did well to hold off Marquez after Bagnaia crashed.

“Bagnaia and Marc were very, very close. As soon as I saw Bagnaia crash, I just controlled the gap. Marc was catching me, so I had to be really, really precise, really focused. It was easy to make a mistake today. Tomorrow will be similar. So [I’m keeping my] head down.”

Bagnaia did his best to force his way back into the lead but lost his front end in the third lap as he headed into turn nine and crashed, finding himself in the gravel. Realising the gravity of his error, he held his head in his hands as his shot at winning the championship all but slipped away.

“I entered the corner a bit slower but I touched the back on the apex of the corner and I lost the front,” said the 27-year-old. “It’s something that can happen, but all the risk I was taking to fight back with Jorge wasn’t over the limit.”

Bagnaia dominated Friday’s practice and clocked a track record to grab pole for the sprint and the grand prix on Sunday, when 25 points are up for grabs for the winner.

“I think Pecco will risk a lot tomorrow to win,” Martin said of the Italian. “So to beat him in these conditions is really tough. He has nothing to lose now. It’s all or nothing.”

The season finale had been scheduled for Valencia in a fortnight but it was cancelled Friday after deadly flooding in that part of Spain.

Organisers are rushing to find a replacement venue.

A minute’s silence was held in Sepang before the sprint race to remember the more than 200 dead.

Second-placed Marquez paid tribute to the victims of catastrophic flooding in Spain, adding: “I dedicate this podium to all the community of Valencia. They are in a very hard moment and we support them.”

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024