Marc Marquez set the fastest lap during Friday practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, overcoming an early crash at Turn 15 to finish with a 1m57.000s. Marquez leads the championship and managed to stay ahead despite only having one bike for the remainder of the session.
Jorge Martin, returning from a fractured wrist sustained at Phillip Island, was cleared to ride and completed FP1 but withdrew from the main practice session after a scare at Turn 12. Martin’s absence means he will face Q1 in Saturday qualifying if he continues this weekend.
Alex Marquez was second-fastest on the Gresini Ducati, just 0.109s behind his brother, while Ai Ogura placed third for Aprilia, 0.167s off the pace. Among the top 10 were also Pedro Acosta, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi, Enea Bastianini, Maverick Vinales, Franco Morbidelli, and a returning Joan Mir.
Several riders, including Di Giannantonio and Moreira, temporarily led the session, while crashes caught out others, such as Pecco Bagnaia and Johann Zarco, affecting their final positions. Thunderstorms remain in the forecast heading into the rest of the Sepang weekend.
