MotoGP | GP Malaysia Sprint Race: Alex Marquez, Martin and Bagnaia win on the "podium"

MotoGP GP Malaysia Sepang Sprint Race – Alex Marquez won the Sprint Race of the Malaysian Grand Prix in the MotoGP class, the 18th round of the 2023 MotoGP championship.

The Team Gresini rider, who started from the fourth spot on the grid, after a good start took the lead five laps from the end of the ten raced, never leaving it until the checkered flag. This is the second victory in a sprint race for the #73 after the one at Silverstone.

Less "explosive" than usual, Jorge Martin, who was beaten in qualifying by Pecco Bagnaia, still managed to nibble away two points from the reigning champion (11 points separate the Italian from the Spaniard, ed.), who also surrendered to the Spanish team from Pramac Racing, for a podium made up of three Ducatis, those of Alex Marquez, Martin and Bagnaia.

Enea Bastianini's race was excellent and after a good qualifying he fought for the top, finishing fourth, ahead of the KTMs of Brad Binder and a rediscovered Jack Miller.

Also scoring points were Marco Bezzecchi, seventh on the Ducati of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, Johann Zarco (Ducati Pramac) and Luca Marini (Ducati Mooney VR46 Racing Team).

Maverick Vinales finished tenth, putting his Aprilia ahead of Franco Morbidelli's Yamaha and Aleix Espargarò's twin RS-GP.

Fabio di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing) finished 13th, while Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez struggled (he crashed in the early stages of the race and then got back on the bike, ed.), who crossed the finish line in 16th and 21st position respectively.

Of note is Alvaro Bautista's 22nd place, with the two-time Superbike champion finishing second to last, ahead of only Joan Mir, who crashed like team-mate Marquez and then returned to the track. Some expected more from the #19 who is riding the Ducati Desmosedici of Team Aruba.it Racing, but the level of MotoGP is very high and the Spaniard hadn't ridden a MotoGP for 5 years, an eternity.