07:04
Alex attacks
Alex made a lunge to retake the lead from Marc, but couldn't hold it.
Live updates from the Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang.
© Gold and Goose
LIVE
Sepang MotoGP LIVE: Race updates as Alex Marquez starts from pole
Live race updates for Sunday's 2026 Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang.
Live coverage of the Malaysian MotoGP race at Sepang.
Key Moments:
- All riders on soft tyres, front and rear.
- Marc Marquez needs 1st or 2nd today to have a title chance in Qatar.
Malaysian MotoGP Race Start Time:
3:00pm (local) / 7:00am (UK)
Marc Marquez starts Sunday at Sepang with a 19-point lead over absent title rival Jorge Martin, who withdrew from the event after trying to ride a week after breaking his wrist at Phillip Island.
Marquez claimed a runner-up finish behind KTM's Pedro Acosta in Saturday's damp Sprint race, but a top two finish in today's Grand Prix would give Marquez a title chance next weekend in Qatar.
Pole qualifier Alex Marquez will be out to make amends after crashing from the Sprint lead, while Aprilia will be looking to Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura to limit the damage in both the riders' and constructors' title battle.
Bezzecchi finished third in the Sprint, while Trackhouse rider Ogura led the most race laps before being shuffled to fourth.
Rain?
After narrowly dodging a deluge in the Sprint, weather forecasts warn of possible thunderstorms during the Grand Prix.
01 Nov 2026
07:03
GO!
The 2026 Malaysian MotoGP gets underway with Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez holding 1-2 at turn one, but it's the red Lenovo machine ahead.
Ai Ogura is third ahead of a fast-starting Enea Bastianini, then Pedro Acosta and Marco Bezzecchi.
07:00
Warm-up lap
The grid clears and the warm-up lap begins at Sepang.
06:57
Softs
Michelin confirms there have been no last-minute changes and all riders will use the soft compound tyres front and rear. They'll need plenty of management over the 20-lap distance in this heat.
06:55
The press ups
Five minutes to go before the warm-up and Marc Marquez does his now familiar pre-race press-ups on the grid.
06:55
Fans
92,107 Sunday fans are packed into Sepang for today's race.
06:51
Nothing to lose
As Sprint winner Pedro Acosta said yesterday, only he and Ai Ogura had nothing to lose in Saturday's battle.
Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi have the title to think about, while - as at Phillip Island - Alex will not want to take risks around his brother.
06:42
Quartararo twarted
Fabio Quartararo says his hopes of rain look to have been thwarted, and he's expecting a fully dry Grand Prix.
06:38
Alex Marquez
Alex Marquez proved at Catalunya 2025 and Jerez 2026 that he can respond to a Sprint mistake with victory the next day in the grand prix.
Will Sepang join that list?
06:36
Riders head to the grid
The MotoGP riders leave pit lane and head for the grid.
25mins until the race start.
06:30
Marc Marquez studying his notes
The cameras pick up Marc Marquez sitting alone in the Ducati pits, studying notes on a clipboard.
Riders are waiting as long as possible before heading to the grid, due to the heat.
06:23
Ai Ogura
Ai Ogura went on the attack early in the Sprint, what can he do in the grand prix?
06:17
Warm-up
Marc Marquez may have done only two flying laps in warm-up, but his pace advantage was clear.
The big question, for all riders, will be tyre endurance over the 20 laps:
Sepang warm-up lap times.
© Peter McLaren
06:04
Tyres
Despite the incredible heat, the low grip levels from the 'destroyed' Sepang track surface mean soft compound tyres are again expected to be used front and rear.
There's likely to be a lot of tyre saving going on.
06:01
Weather
Pirelli said the track temperature for the Moto2 race was a scorching 54°C.
The air temp is officially 35°C.
The 20-lap MotoGP race is sure to be a gruelling physical challenge.
There's also the risk of a rainstorm, as arrived moments after the chequered flag on Saturday.
05:59
Marc Marquez Qatar title chance
In order for Marc Marquez to have a mathematical chance of winning the MotoGP title next weekend in Qatar, he needs to finish either first or second in today's grand prix.
Ducati's reigning champion, runner-up to KTM's Pedro Acosta in the Sprint, was fastest in the morning warm-up.
With closest title rival Jorge Martin out injured, Marquez starts today 19 points clear.
The six riders still in mathematical MotoGP title contention after the Sepang Sprint.
© Peter McLaren
05:57
The MotoGP grid
Row 1: Alex Marquez (pole), Marc Marquez, Pedro Acosta
Row 2: Ai Ogura, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio
Row 3: Enea Bastianini, Johann Zarco, Franco Morbidelli
Row 4: Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir, Maverick Viñales
Row 5: Luca Marini, Diogo Moreira, Brad Binder
Row 6: Jack Miller, Alex Rins, Fabio Quartararo
Row 7: Iker Lecuona, Augusto Fernandez
05:54
Good morning.
The Malaysian Moto2 Grand Prix has just ended in victory for 2027 MotoGP rider David Alonso.
This year's MotoGP race starts in just over an hour.