04:27
Interestingly, lap times are a long way off qualifying last year, when Bagnaia set a 1m 56.337s for pole.
Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez, 2025 Malaysian MotoGP
2025 Malaysian MotoGP, Sepang: Sprint reaction - LIVE UPDATES
Live updates from Saturday’s Sprint race at the 2025 Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang.
MotoGP arrives at Sepang in Malaysia fresh from an Aprilia double at Phillip Island - courtesy of Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez - but with Marc Marquez, Jorge Martin and Maverick Vinales still sidelined by injury.
Marc Marquez is again being replaced by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, Martin by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori and Vinales by KTM test rider Pol Espargaro.
Alex Marquez is comfortably on course to wrap up a historic Marquez one-two in the world championship this weekend, holding a 97-point advantage over next-best Bezzecchi. Just 74 points will remain after this weekend.
The Gresini rider is a former Sprint winner at Sepang and topped February’s official pre-season test.
Last year’s Sepang pole and grand prix winner Francesco Bagnaia has faded to fourth overall on his factory Ducati after back-to-back misery at Mandalika and Phillip Island.
Martin won last year’s Sprint and was runner-up to Bagnaia in the grand prix, after a thrilling early duel between the then title rivals.
Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez is back this weekend to give the new Yamaha V4 its second wild-card appearance of the year, after a 14th place at Misano in mid-September.
Pedro Acosta and KTM set the pace on an unpredictable Friday, ahead of Johann Zarco and Jack Miller.
Bagnaia came from Q1 to take a surprise pole, as Ducati took a step on Saturday morning.
Saturday schedule:
10:10am (local) / 03:10am (UK) - MotoGP FP2
10:50am (local) / 03:50am (UK) - MotoGP Qualifying
3:00pm (local) / 8:00am (UK) - MotoGP Sprint
25 Oct 2025
04:26
Boom! Bagnaia sets a 1m 57.001s to snatch provisional pole away from Quartararo by 0.194s. A great lap by the Ducati rider.
04:25
The riders pit for new rubber, the order so far:
- Fabio Quartararo
- Pedro Acosta
- Joan Mir
- Johann Zarco
- Franco Morbidelli
- Fabio di Giannantonio
- Alex Marquez
- Jack Miller
- Pol Espargaro
- Fermin Aldeguer
- Alex Rins
- Francesco Bagnaia
Bagnaia is yet to do a time-attack in Qualifying 2, due to the number of new tyres available.
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04:23
But not for long.
Qualifying ace Fabio Quartararo wrings a 1m 57.195s from his Yamaha to push 0.168s clear.
That's still slightly slower than Aldeguer in Qualifying 1, so this probably isn't over...
04:22
Joan Mir is on a charge for HRC, slots into second between Acosta and Zarco on his second flying lap. Two RC213Vs on the front row!
04:20
The first flying lap ends with Pedro Acosta fastest from Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli.
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04:19
Qualifying 2 begins
The 15-minute Qualifying 2 session is underway.
Riders:
- Pedro Acosta
- Johann Zarco
- Jack Miller
- Joan Mir
- Fabio Quartararo
- Fabio Di Giannantonio
- Franco Morbidelli
- Pol Espargaro
- Alex Marquez
- Alex Rins
- Fermin Aldeguer
- Francesco Bagnaia
04:10
Aldeguer crashes again... in the paddock!
Fermin Aldeguer managed to get his crashed Gresini Ducati back to the paddock.
But as he was riding the bike side-saddle towards the back of the Gresini garage, he lost control, toppled over and almost wiped out team manager Michele Masini as the GP24 crashed to the ground again.
The mechanics had their hands on their heads in shock as the incident unfolded, while Masini's reflexes meant he narrowly avoided being hit.
Fortunately, no-one was hurt but the head-on impact with the wall means the bike is probably out of action.
04:08
Aldeguer and Bagnaia progress to Qualifying 2
The chequered flag is out, there are no improvements.
Fermin Aldeguer and Francesco Bagnaia progress to Qualifying 2 but Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi will start just 13th and 14th on the grid.
Qualifying 1:
- Fermin Aldeguer
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Luca Marini
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Raul Fernandez
- Miguel Oliveira
- Ai Ogura
- Brad Binder
- Enea Bastianini
- Somkiat Chantra
- Lorenzo Savadori
- Michele Pirro
- Augusto Fernandez
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04:05
Riders have been told not to try and rejoin if they crash at the end of qualifying, to avoid yellow flags wrecking the laps of other riders. But it means Aldeguer had to abandon his machine and walk away.
04:05
Crash
Aldeguer crashes at Turn 4! He's fastest but the yellow flags will impede others from beating him. The problem for the rookie is that he might not have his number one bike for Qualifying 2.
04:03
Aldeguer attacks
Aldeguer sets a perfect sweep of 4 red sectors and puts his GP24 fastest by 0.042s from Bagnaia.
1min to go.
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04:03
Gigi Dall’Igna nods in approval at Bagnaia's time, but Bezzecchi is under pressure.
Aldeguer is 4th but on course to improve...
04:02
Bagnaia fastest
Both Bagnaia and Bezzecchi set red sectors... Bagnaia jumps from 3rd to 1st and Bezzecchi from 5th to 3rd..
The other riders are on their out lap.
04:00
Here we go, 5mins on the clock and Bagnaia and Bezzecchi are among those starting their all-important final run. Their podium chances could depend on the next few minutes.
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03:58
The riders pit before the final run, some tense looks in the Ducati pits as Bagnaia explains what the GP25 is doing, order so far:
- Luca Marini
- Fermin Aldeguer
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Raul Fernandez
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Brad Binder
- Enea Bastianini
- Miguel Oliveira
- Ai Ogura
- Lorenzo Savadori
- Augusto Fernandez
- Michele Pirro
03:56
Marini strikes back! The Honda rider pushes 0.064s clear of Aldeguer.
03:55
Aldeguer grabs the initial advantage from Bagnaia, then it's Raul Fernandez and Marini.
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03:54
Qualifying 1 is underway, new soft tyres front and rear except for Michele Pirro (medium front).
03:50
Qualifying 1 line-up, but only two riders will progress:
Luca MARINI
Francesco BAGNAIA
Fermin ALDEGUER
Ai OGURA
Marco BEZZECCHI
Raul FERNANDEZ
Brad BINDER
Miguel OLIVEIRA
Enea BASTIANINI
Somkiat CHANTRA
Lorenzo SAVADORI
Michele PIRRO
Augusto FERNANDEZ
03:48
Malaysian MotoGP: Final Practice Results
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03:43
Luca Marini fastest
Final practice ends with Luca Marini fastest by 0.007s from Franco Morbidelli. Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir, Fermin Aldeguer and Fabio Quartararo complete the top six.
Qualifying 1 next, when Marini, Bagnaia, Aldeguer and Bezzecchi will fight over just two transfer places to Qualifying 2.
03:41
Rins in the gravel
A late incident for Quartararo's Monster Yamaha team-mate Alex Rins, who runs off at the final hairpin.
03:39
Aldeguer and Quartararo are still setting personal bests, but they are on much newer soft rear tyres. 8 laps for Aldeguer and 5 for Quartararo.
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03:38
The Sprint is 10 laps and Grand Prix distance 20 laps.
