Dani Pedrosa feels setting changes with his Repsol Honda provided key performance gains on his way to fifth place at the Malaysian MotoGP as attention turns to his final race at the Valencia finale.
Valentino Rossi said he felt “devastated” by the crash that ended his hopes of breaking a MotoGP win-drought that has lasted 17 months, but believes he could view aspects of his performance positively, saying “we lived the dream for 15 laps.”
Having spent much of the season battling the Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez found himself fighting the Yamahas of Valentino Rossi and Johann Zarco during Sunday's Malaysian MotoGP.
Johann Zarco broke his MotoGP podium drought and moved to the head of the Independent standings with third place in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix. Zarco celebrated two podiums during the opening four rounds of the season, but had been absent from the rostrum ever since.
Alex Rins cited an engine upgrade at Assen as the biggest step made by the Suzuki this season, as the team celebrated its eighth podium of the year in the Malaysian MotoGP.
Marc Marquez said he didn't have anything else left during his pursuit of race leader Valentino Rossi in Sunday's Malaysian MotoGP. With both riders 'on the limit', Marquez's only plan was to try and stay in contact with the Italian and then improvise a late attack.
Andrea Iannone feels a podium challenge was possible at the Malaysian MotoGP but his charge was derailed avoiding Marc Marquez’s slide on the opening lap which sent him down.
Andrea Dovizioso has left Sepang bemused by Ducati’s clear drop in pace during the Malaysian MotoGP compared to both practice plus testing at the track and is eager to see if changes will be required to avoid the same fate in the future.
Maverick Vinales feels when his Movistar Yamaha team can provide an engine package to meet his demands he’ll be confident of consistently fighting at the front in MotoGP following a solid charge up to fourth place in Malaysia.
Marquez wins the Malaysian MotoGP after Rossi falls from the lead in the closing stages. The accident also cost Rossi any chance of beating Dovizioso for second in the 2018 world championship.
Stefan Bradl fills in for the injured Cal Crutchlow at LCR Honda after the British rider suffered a fractured right ankle during Australian MotoGP race weekend.
Marc Marquez says he ‘didn’t see’ Andrea Iannone after the MotoGP world champion lost his pole position at Sepang as a result of an incident involving the Suzuki rider.
Maverick Viñales was left frustrated by his lack of performance in Saturday afternoon’s MotoGP qualifying at Sepang, and called on his Movistar Yamaha team to “provide me with a bike for the wet.”