MotoGP Sepang Qualifying: Alex Marquez on pole – Jorge Martin pulls out!

The picture spoke volumes: on Saturday morning, Jorge Martin arrived at the Aprilia pit as a passenger on a scooter, with MotoGP chief medical officer Dr Angel Charte at the wheel. Shortly afterwards, Martin joined the second MotoGP free practice session at the Sepang Circuit. But after just one lap, the number 89 Aprilia returned to the pits. Curiously, it was not his injured wrist but technical issues that seemed to be causing problems for the World Championship runner-up. Whilst the replacement bike was being frantically prepared, Ai Ogura’s Aprilia was in the gravel at Turn 7 – not a successful start to Sprint Saturday for the Aprilia project.

But optimism returned in the final stages of FP2. Jorge Martin had completed eight laps and finished the session in 21st place, 1.5 seconds off the pace. Marco Bezzecchi had long led the session ahead of Ai Ogura. In the final minutes, the pair dropped back to third and fourth behind Enea Bastianini and Alex Márquez. MotoGP championship leader Marc Márquez had finished the 30-minute morning session in eighth place.

Then came the first of the two qualifying sessions – without Jorge Martin. Aprilia had decided to withdraw Marc Marquez’s rival. The limitations caused by his broken wrist were too great, and his chances of scoring World Championship points under his own steam were slim.

Niedergeschlagen: Jorge Martin (Aprilia) gab nach dem FP2 auf

Foto: Gold and Goose

Honda rider Johann Zarco initially set the fastest time. The Frenchman clocked a time of 1:57.341, putting him two tenths faster than Pecco Bagnaia and his team-mate Luca Marini. Whilst the battle for the remaining two Q2 places was still underway, Aprilia Racing issued the official confirmation: Jorge Martin out!

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Sepang: Qualifying Moto2

MotoGP World Championship

31.10.2026 - 06:40

A large group of six riders had formed on the track: Bagnaia, Miller, Rins, Zarco, Moreira and Augusto Fernández. Bagnaia pulled away at the front but failed to improve his time. Things were looking good for Luca Marini. The Italian was on course for a fastest lap but failed twice in a row to break into the top two. This meant that the experienced riders Johann Zarco and Pecco Bagnaia progressed to Q2.

Qualifying 2: Alex Márquez took the lead

At 11.15 am local time, the battle for the starting positions for the two Sepang races finally got underway. Alongside the Marquez brothers, three KTMs and two Hondas, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Morbidelli’s team-mate, the Aprilia riders Ai Ogura and Marco Bezzecchi, and Pecco Bagnaia took to the 5.54 km Sepang Circuit.

It kicked off with a blistering lap from Alex Márquez. The Gresini rider clocked 1:56.697 on his very first flying lap, putting him on course for a lap record. Behind him were Marc Marquez, Acosta, Bastianini and Bezzecchi. Only the Marquez brothers were clocking times under 1:57.

Marc Marquez: Fehlerfreies Q2 und Startplatz 2

Foto: Gold and Goose

However, that sensational lap wasn’t enough for Alex Márquez to secure pole position. In the final minutes, fans witnessed a major charge from Aprilia. First place swung to Marco Bezzecchi, then to Ai Ogura. But the world champion had the final say. On the penultimate lap of the session, Marc Marquez reclaimed the lead. In the slipstream of ‘MM93’, Pedro Acosta had shot up to second place.

Then, on the very last lap, Alex Marquez got his revenge. The customer Ducati rider was once again 0.070 seconds faster, but missed the lap record by a tenth. When the chequered flag was waved, it was clear: pole position for Alex Marquez! Championship leader Marc Marquez secured the ideal starting position by finishing second. Pedro Acosta will start the Sepang races from third place. Lining up on row 2 are the Aprilia aces Bezzecchi and Ogura, along with Fabio Di Giannantonio. Row 3 is also interesting, featuring Bastianini (KTM), Zarco (Honda) and Morbidelli (Ducati).

Startreihe 1 für KTM-Pilot Pedro Acosta (3.)

Foto: Gold and Goose