Jorge Martin (Ducati) failed to secure the MotoGP world title on Sunday at Sepang.
The Spaniard, 2nd in the Malaysian GP behind his rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), will nevertheless approach the last race weekend of the season with a comfortable margin of 24 points over the Italian.
The fight promised to be sumptuous between the two men, and it was. Jorge Martin, who had to score nine points more than Francesco Bagnaia to validate his first coronation in the premier category on Sunday, took all the risks in the first three laps. Changes in leadership then multiplied.
Starting with a medium tire at the front unlike his opponent, Martin still calmed his enthusiasm to let Bagnaia take off. The Spaniard came back strong at the end to get back to 1''5 with 4 laps to go, but he then made a fatal mistake and finished more than 3 seconds behind.
Francesco Bagnaia therefore recovered perfectly after falling on Saturday in a sprint race won by Jorge Martin. But the Italian, winner for the 10th time of the season in a Sunday GP, could pay dearly for his eighth retirement of the season. Only 37 points will be at stake during the final race weekend.
Dettwiler 18th and last
The only Swiss rider entered in the world speed championship, Noah Dettwiler (KTM) also took 18th – and last – place in Moto3. The Basel driver missed the top 15 by more than 24'' in a race won by Colombian world champion David Alonso (13th success in 19 GPs contested this year).
/ATS
