MotoGP: Jorge Martin very close to the title after his victory in the sprint race in Malaysia

World championship leader Jorge Martin took a big step towards the title on Saturday by winning the sprint race of the Malaysian Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the MotoGP season, while his rival Francesco Bagnaia crashed.

The Spaniard (Ducati-Pramac) can be crowned on Sunday if he scores nine points more than the Italian (Ducati). For example, if he wins the GP, his competitor must not do better than third.

“Nothing is done”

“Nothing has been done,” he procrastinated. Pecco has nothing left to lose. I think we are ahead of the others, so in the worst case scenario, I will try to finish second,” he explained.

Although the double defending champion will start from pole position, the gap of 29 points in the standings seems irreversible, as “Martinator” seems impervious to the vagaries of racing and pressure. The consistency of the Madrilenian with a famously aggressive style, who swears that he has gained maturity this season, contrasts with Bagnaia's repeated errors.

Falls in Emilia-Romagna and Aragon caused the Italian to lose the benefit of his nine GP wins, while his rival only has three this year. At Sepang, he may have had one crash too many.

Bagnaia gave in to Martin's supersonic departure. In a position that pushes him to take more risks to catch up in the standings, “Pecco” sought to quickly regain the lead in the sprint. But on the second lap, in turn 9, he lost control of his front wheel and ended up sliding into the gravel, to the amazement of the public.

Quartararo fifth

It's a tricky corner, uphill, with a few bumps, where the bikes arrive very quickly and have to use the front brake a lot, the riders described. “I hit a bump and lost the front. I've touched it plenty of times before, and I've never fallen. There is always a first time for everything, and today was not the right time,” he summarized. He is the only one to have fallen during the sprint.

Bagnaia can still cling to the experience of his two previous titles. He won his first, in 2022, when he was 91 points behind then leader Fabio Quartararo at mid-season, a feat which persuaded him never to give up.

“Tomorrow (Sunday), I will be 100% as always. But giving my best and winning the race won't be enough. It will take something more,” he conceded.

Pecco is particularly hoping for indirect help from Marc Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) or the Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati), to come between him and Martin, and perhaps deprive his rival of precious points.

But this scenario clashes with the reality of the times achieved by “Martinator” who, in qualifying as well as during the sprint, had no rival equal to him, except Bagnaia.

Marquez and Bastianini complete the day's podium. For his return to the premier category after five years of absence for doping, the Italian Andrea Ianonne (Ducati-VR46) finished 19th.

On the French side, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) finished fifth, equaling his best ranking of the season. “It’s positive. (Compared to the Motorcycle) it’s better, even if we’re still missing a lot of things,” he rejoiced. Johann Zarco (Honda-LCR) did not finish the race due to engine failure. “This must not happen,” he cursed.