in Malaysia, first title chance for Jorge Martin

“I’ve grown a lot. » Beaten at the finish last year, the Spaniard Jorge Martin, best placed for the title, has the opportunity to take his revenge on Francesco Bagnaia in the world championship, this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix , the penultimate round of the season.

The Ducati-Pramac rider needs to win 21 points more than the double Italian title holder (Ducati) to validate his first coronation. This happened three times this season, but always following falls or a mechanical problem which pushed “Pecco” to retire.

With two GPs remaining, the paddock will still be watching for the slightest racing hazard, which could be fatal to one of the two contenders. Last week, neither driver faltered in the rain in Thailand.

“I am more mature”

Martin promised that the mistake was not going to come from his side. “I have grown up, I am more mature”he assured. In 2023, the Madrilenian, renowned for his aggressive style on the track, ceded the title to his Italian rival, with a famously relaxed temperament, at the very end of the season. “I was too nervous. […] Last year I lost, and nothing happened to me. It's not the end of the world.”philosophized the Ducati-Pramac rider.

Sitting alongside him at a press conference, Bagnaia admitted that his opponent could afford to be more ” calm “. The Italian is forced to take more risks, and to count on a failure from the Spaniard, if he wants to win a third consecutive title, which only the legends Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have achieved in the 21^e century.

Last week, he won the GP in front of Martin, and made up three points behind (17 remaining), but such a scenario in Malaysia would not satisfy him. “We will have to make up more pointshe assured. This is a critical situation. You have to be the fastest, and also avoid making mistakes. »

If Martin is not crowned in Malaysia, everything will be decided during the last GP of the season, as in 2022 and 2023. And it will not be in Valencia from November 15 to 17, following the deadly floods which affected the south of Spain, announced this Friday 1^is November the promoter of the championship. A new circuit will be announced soon to host the final race of the season on a date which will also be specified later.

Andrea Iannone returns

In Malaysia, the former garden of Sebastian Vettel, four times winner when Formula 1 came to Sepang, the return of a veteran also fueled discussions.

Andrea Iannone will contest the last two races with Ducati-VR46, in place of Fabio Di Giannantonio, left to rest for shoulder surgery. The 35-year-old Italian, entered in Superbike this year, has not raced in the premier category since his suspension for doping in 2019. “I don't know what to expect. The bike has changed a lot. The most important thing is to have fun”he said, with a big smile.

On the French side, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), who will have a new, more powerful engine, said he was heading into the unknown. “It’s hard to know what to expect. We are not in a position to think about a specific result”declared the Nice resident. Johann Zarco (Honda-LCR) hopes to confirm his 8^e place in the Thai GP, his best ranking of the season.