Alex Marquez capped off his 2025 MotoGP World Championship runner-up success in style by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
The Gresini Ducati rider overtook Sprint winner Francesco Bagnaia on the second lap and never looked back. Bagnaia initially maintained second place but gradually faded, eventually being passed by Pedro Acosta, who delivered a stunning ride despite KTM’s ongoing rear tyre struggles.
With just three laps remaining, Bagnaia suddenly slowed and began cruising to the pits, possibly due to a puncture or a mechanical issue. His misfortune opened the door for Honda’s Joan Mir to snatch third — his second podium of the season.
Despite the hotter conditions and full race distance, most riders stuck with the soft rear tyre used in the Sprint. Michelin had warned that while the soft could last the race, riders would need to carefully manage tyre wear. The medium front tyre was a popular compromise, chosen by nine riders including Bagnaia, though it failed to provide the expected edge.
Bagnaia took the holeshot from pole but soon found himself unable to resist Marquez’s early pace. Once Marquez moved ahead, he controlled the race with a consistent rhythm, maintaining a safe margin throughout.
Behind them, Mir delivered an aggressive performance — passing Fermin Aldeguer and later battling Fabio Quartararo for fourth, a fight the Honda rider eventually won halfway through the race.
Both Marquez and Aldeguer sported a special livery to celebrate their championship milestones — Marquez securing the runner-up title and Aldeguer clinching Rookie of the Year in Saturday’s Sprint. Unfortunately for the young Spaniard, Aldeguer’s race ended prematurely with a crash from seventh, joining Miguel Oliveira, Raul Fernandez, and Pol Espargaro on the list of DNFs.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi finished a distant 11th, making only minor gains on Bagnaia in the battle for third overall. Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez completed Yamaha’s V4 prototype’s second wild-card run, finishing 18th.
Although the MotoGP race ran on schedule, the Moto2 event was postponed to the end of the day due to a serious Moto3 accident that occurred during its sighting lap.
