MotoGP: Marquez, Rossi, Lorenzo On the Malaysian Grand Prix Podium

With a record-tying 12th MotoGP win at Sepang International Circuit, Marc Marquez ends his four-race winless streak in sweltering heat before a crowd of more than 80,000 fans by equalling Mick Doohan’s premier-class record of 12 wins in one season.   After smashing the outright lap record during qualifying, Marquez set a new Sepang lap record with a time of 2’01.150 on lap two as he battled with the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP duo of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at the front of the field.

Lorenzo led for the opening nine laps of the race before being passed in quick succession by first Rossi and then Marquez, but the 2014 World Champion seized the race lead just a couple of laps later. Lorenzo’s early lead came after a first crash by Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) who lost the front around Turn 15 while in second place. Pedrosa recovered to 11th before suffering a second crash.

Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) took the lead from teammate Lorenzo at mid-race and was followed through by Marquez. Two laps later Marquez pushed in front of Rossi and he built up a sufficient gap to defend his lead. Marquez’s victory seals the premier class Constructor’s title for Honda and ends a run of four Yamaha victories.

Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP) beat Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) to the line for fourth as the Englishman closed in on the last lap, only to run long on the final corner.

Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) was medically cleared to compete after a serious FP3 crash on Saturday left him with a broken bone in his left foot. Esparparo rode to a sixth place finish.

Yonny Hernandez (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing) crossed the line seventh, staying upright having almost collided with Pol Espargaro’s rear wheel mid-race.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was on course to a solid fourth place before he dropped several positions to eighth in the final laps, apparently suffering from a technical issue.

The top ten was completed by Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) and Scott Redding (GO&FUN Honda Gresini).

Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) and Alvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) both fell at Turn 1 on the second lap. A mechanical problem forced an early retirement for Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team), his third DNF in three races.

Turn 9 saw Nicky Hayden (Drive M7 Aspar) lose the front as he chased his teammate Hiroshi Aoyama at the back of the top ten. Fellow Open Honda rider Karel Abraham (Cardio AB Motoracing) crashed some laps later.

Danilo Petrucci (Octo IodaRacing Team) retired with five laps to go, having been in a point scoring position. Hiroshi Aoyama (Drive M7 Aspar) also fell, but was able to remount and finish 11th. Alex De Angelis (NGM Forward Racing) retired on the final lap.