Moto2 heads to the Sepang circuit to contest the penultimate round of its 2024 season. The title is now awarded, as Ai Ogura ensured he lifted the world crown in Thailand, leaving Buriram with more than fifty points ahead of his closest pursuer, Aron Canet. However, the stakes remain high, since the latter is competing for the title of vice-world champion with a few drivers from the top of the ranking. After competitive practice sessions, Jorge Navarro took pole position at the end of Q2. Joe Roberts' replacement will try to defend it in the Moto2 race in Malaysia.
Here is a table that summarizes the known facts
:
| Moto2™ Malaysia, Sepang | 2023 | 2024 |
| FP | 2'06.183 Fermin Adleguer | 2’06.255 Jake Dixon |
| P1 | 2'06.293 Ai Ogura | 2'05,576 Manuel Gonzalez |
| P2 | 2'05.316 Fermin Aldeguer | 2’04.775 Albert Arenas |
| Q1 | 2’05.724 Tony Arbolino | 2'05.202 Somkiat Chantra |
| Q2 | 2'05,288 Fermin Aldeguer | 2'04,412 Jorge Navarro |
| Course | Aldeguer, Acosta, Ramirez (See here) | Vietti, Navarro, Guevara |
| Record | 2’04.769 Brad Binder (2019) | 2'04,412 Jorge Navarro |
Marcos Ramirez made the best start, and crossed the first corner in the lead. However, it is Celestino Vietti who emerges victorious from the fight between the leaders in the first sector. Promoted to the lead, the Italian finished the first lap more than a second ahead, while his rivals continued to fight behind him.
Ramirez finally gets the better of Ai Ogura. Followed by Izan Guevara, the two men set out to chase Vietti. It won't take long, since the leader makes a mistake at turn 1, and sees his advantage reduced to nothing.
Each driver in the top-5, joined by Jorge Navarro, can then believe in victory. Behind, Deniz Öncü takes the drivers from sixth to tenth place, in a battle with Jake Dixon.
The tires begin to deteriorate, and it becomes impossible for some to maintain the pace. Izan Guevara and Ai Ogura thus drop out of the top-3, while Jorge Navarro is gaining strength. Halfway through the race, he overtakes his neighbor in the garage who also lets go, and begins to come back on Celesitno Vietti.
It's also Jake Dixon's time to shine, coming back to Ogura and Ramirez. The last city will suffer successive attacks from its two adversaries, without putting up too much resistance. The Moto2 world champion has shown flawless consistency since the start of the season, his mechanics have not kept up with him. The Japanese was forced to retire due to a mechanical breakdown, putting an end to a long series of top-5 finishes.
Jake Dixon is therefore promoted to the podium. A little less than two seconds in front of him, Jorge Navarro and Celestino Vietti are within a few tenths.
The Kalex of Team American Racing, however, seemed to have difficulty with their rear end at the end of the race, and Navarro let Vietti escape. Jake Dixon then returned at high speed to second place, but cut the gas a lap too early, thus giving his teammate his first podium in Moto2.
Malaysian Moto2 GP Race Results at Sepang:
Ranking credit: MotoGP.com
