Marc Marquez wins Malaysian MotoGP, extends championship lead

By Halis Sunnetci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez won the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, securing his seventh victory of the season and extending his championship lead to 44 points.

The Ducati Lenovo rider completed the 20-lap race at the 5.54-kilometer Sepang International Circuit in 40 minutes and 14.236 seconds, claiming his third Malaysian Grand Prix victory and first since 2018.

Spain’s Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing finished second, 4.172 seconds behind Marquez, while his younger brother Alex Marquez of BK8 Gresini Racing took third, 5.955 seconds behind.

Marquez, who started second on the grid, overtook pole-sitter Alex at the opening corner. His younger brother briefly regained the lead before running wide, allowing the Ducati rider to move back ahead and control the remainder of the race.

The victory, his 80th in the premier class, lifted Marquez to 399 championship points, 44 ahead of second-placed Jorge Martin, who missed the Malaysian Grand Prix due to a wrist injury sustained at the Australian Grand Prix.

Martin’s Aprilia Racing teammate Marco Bezzecchi finished sixth, 11.259 seconds behind Marquez, and remained third in the championship standings with 332 points.

Acosta followed in fourth place with 295 points, while Japan’s Ai Ogura was fifth with 278.

Marquez will have his first opportunity to clinch his eighth MotoGP world title at the Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 8, with two rounds remaining after the event.

Halis Sünnetci