Mir surprise leader in Malaysian MotoGP warm-up

Full Malaysian MotoGP warm-up results at Sepang

Joan Mir has bolted to the top for Suzuki by leading warm-up ahead of the Malaysian MotoGP.

The MotoGP rookie used fresh medium tyres to produce two late lap improvements, the best of 1m 59.516s giving him top spot, to end Petronas Yamaha’s domination having seen the Sepang-based team top every session this weekend ahead of its home debut in the premier class.

Maverick Vinales also notched up a late attack to take second place for Monster Yamaha to replicate his starting position ahead of the Sepang race which pushed Petronas Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli into third place and into his own grid slot for later today.

Marc Marquez bounced back from his controversial Q2 off with fourth place in warm-up for Repsol Honda, after highsiding off at Turn 2 while stalking Fabio Quartararo in qualifying, while Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso claimed fifth place just ahead of the Petronas Yamaha rider.

With Valentino Rossi in seventh place for Monster Yamaha, Jack Miller had to settle for eighth for Pramac Ducati but in front of a resurgent Pol Espargaro for Red Bull KTM having seen the Austrian brand suffer all weekend at Sepang.

Cal Crutchlow rounded out the top 10 for LCR Honda ahead of Alex Rins on the Suzuki with Francesco Bagnaia in 12^th place for Pramac Ducati.

Aleix Espargaro led the Aprilia charge in 13^th place ahead of Ducati Danilo Petrucci and the second Aprilia of Andrea Iannone.

Johann Zarco had a low-key warm-up with LCR Honda down in 16^th place after impressing in qualifying but he kept ahead of the lone Avintia Ducati of Karel Abraham with Tito Rabat missing in Sepang due to a hand injury.

With Mika Kallio in 18^th place for Red Bull KTM, Jorge Lorenzo’s pace woes continued at Repsol Honda with only home rider Hafizh Syahrin behind him on the timesheet. The Tech3 KTM rider is competing without team-mate Miguel Oliveira after he withdrew due to shoulder and hand injuries.