Marquez wins in Malaysia to extend MotoGP lead
Reigning champion Marc Marquez takes a 44-point lead over title rival Jorge Martin by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Key points
- Marc Marquez won the Malaysian Grand Prix and now leads Jorge Martin by 44 points.
- Martin missed the race due to a fractured wrist from a crash at the Australian Grand Prix.
- Marquez can clinch the title at the Qatar Grand Prix if he extends his lead to 74 points.
Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez won the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his championship lead over title rival Jorge Martin to 44 points. Martin did not race because of injury.
It was Marquez's first win in Malaysia since 2018. His brother Alex Marquez finished third, behind Pedro Acosta. Marquez, a seven-time MotoGP champion, now has 399 points after winning by more than four seconds.
Title chances
Marquez will seal the title with two rounds remaining if he can extend his lead to 74 points at the Qatar Grand Prix next week.
Marquez said: "We did a perfect race, so I'm super, super happy." He added that his mentality cannot change and that he must keep focus and keep pushing, noting there are not many races to go but many moments left.
We did a perfect race, so I'm super, super happy
— Marc Marquez
Martin's injury
Martin, who won the championship in 2024, tried to ride in the morning practice session but had to withdraw as he struggled with the fractured wrist he suffered during a crash at last week's Australian Grand Prix.
The Marquez brothers fought for the lead early in the race before the eventual winner pulled ahead, leaving Alex to battle Acosta for the remaining podium places.
