MotoGP: The numbers of the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang

280 – Casey Stoner collected a total of 280 points during the 2008 season, finishing in second place in the general classification behind Valentino Rossi: this represents the highest score ever recorded in the premier category by a rider other than the World Champion. This year the record will be broken by the two Spanish drivers Lorenzo and Pedrosa, who already went beyond the 280 point threshold in 2012.

28 – After finishing 2nd behind Dani Pedrosa in Japan, Jorge Lorenzo can now count on a 28-point advantage at the top of the general classification, which puts him in line for the world title already for the Malaysian race. The Majorcan will have to climb to the top step of the podium and hope that his compatriot does not go beyond the 13th final position. If Lorenzo manages to get his hands on the 2012 world title, he will become the first Spanish rider capable of winning the top category World Championship twice.

22 – Malaysia will host a Grand Prix for the 22nd time. The first Malaysian GP was held on the Shah Alam circuit in 1991 and continued until 1997. The 1998 Grand Prix was held in Johor, and it was from the following year that the world club moved definitively to Sepang.

21 – On the day of the Malaysian qualifications, home rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin will turn 21.

20 – With the victory in the Japanese GP Dani Pedrosa climbed to the top step of the podium in the premier category for the 20th time, thus equaling the two-time 500cc World Champion Freddie Spencer.

16 – On the day of qualifying in Sepang, exactly 16 years will have passed since the 1996 Australian GP at Eastern Creek in which Loris Capirossi, riding a Yamaha, triumphed for the first time in 500cc after the accident involving Alex Criville and his teammate. team Mick Doohan, leader of the race at that moment, at the last bend.

10 years – On the day of the Malaysian qualifying, exactly 10 years will have passed since the 2002 Australian GP at Phillip Island during which Jeremy McWilliams (Team KR Proton) became the last rider to start from pole position in the two-stroke era of the top category. It was also the first pole in the premier class for a driver equipped with Bridgestone tyres.

8 years – In MotoGP, Honda hasn't won at Sepang since Valentino Rossi triumphed aboard the RC211V 990cc in 2003.

5 – Yamaha is the manufacturer that can boast the most successes in Sepang in the top category with five victories. Ducati riders crossed the finish line first on three occasions, while Honda can count on just one success.

5 – At Motegi Dani Pedrosa recorded his 5th triumph of the season. For the Spanish rider this represents the highest number of victories obtained in a single year since his move to MotoGP in 2006.

3 – The MotoGP podium in Motegi was entirely made up of riders of Spanish origin: something like this had not been seen until now in the 64 years of history of the World Championship.