Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez, 2025 Malaysian MotoGP

2025 Malaysian MotoGP, Sepang: Sprint reaction - LIVE UPDATES

Live updates from Saturday’s Sprint race at the 2025 Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang.

MotoGP arrives at Sepang in Malaysia fresh from an Aprilia double at Phillip Island - courtesy of Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez - but with Marc Marquez, Jorge Martin and Maverick Vinales still sidelined by injury.

Marc Marquez is again being replaced by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, Martin by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori and Vinales by KTM test rider Pol Espargaro.

Alex Marquez is comfortably on course to wrap up a historic Marquez one-two in the world championship this weekend, holding a 97-point advantage over next-best Bezzecchi. Just 74 points will remain after this weekend.

The Gresini rider is a former Sprint winner at Sepang and topped February’s official pre-season test.

Last year’s Sepang pole and grand prix winner Francesco Bagnaia has faded to fourth overall on his factory Ducati after back-to-back misery at Mandalika and Phillip Island.

Martin won last year’s Sprint and was runner-up to Bagnaia in the grand prix, after a thrilling early duel between the then title rivals.

Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez is back this weekend to give the new Yamaha V4 its second wild-card appearance of the year, after a 14th place at Misano in mid-September.

Pedro Acosta and KTM set the pace on an unpredictable Friday, ahead of Johann Zarco and Jack Miller.

Bagnaia came from Q1 to take a surprise pole, as Ducati took a step on Saturday morning.

Saturday schedule:

10:10am (local) / 03:10am (UK) - MotoGP FP2
10:50am (local) / 03:50am (UK) - MotoGP Qualifying
3:00pm (local) / 8:00am (UK) - MotoGP Sprint

Lewis Duncan

25 Oct 2025

08:18

Aldeguer makes light work of Acosta at Turn 9 on the brakes. That KTM has no more drive grip.

08:18

Bezzecchi is up to seventh from 14th on the grid.

08:17

Lap 8/10

Three laps to go. Bagnaia's lead is now 2.4s.

Acosta is coming under big threat from Aldeguer.

08:16

Utter heartbreak for @JoanMirOfficial as he was inches away from fighting for 3rd 💔💔💔

And @Aldeguer54 into fourth now! #MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/v17JwXTOCf
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 25, 2025

08:15

Lap 7/10

Bagnaia ticks off another lap and leads by 2.1s from Marquez, who is 1s clear of Acosta now, while Aldeguer is closing him down.

08:14

Alex Marquez is almost a second clear of Acosta now.

08:14

Crash - Miguel Oliveira

Oliveira has gone down at Turn 1. He was 18th.

Mir has pitted.

08:14

Lap 6/10

Bagnaia's lead is still 1.9s from Marquez, who has 0.5s from Acosta now.

That crash for Mir is good news for Marquez, who will take runner-up spot in the standings as it stands.

08:13

Crash - Joan Mir

Mir has crashed at Turn 9 while battling for third. Front-end goes away.

Harsh luck, but an all too familiar sight.

08:12

Mir is right with Acosta now, whose pace is dropping slightly. Are we seeing more KTM tyre wear troubles?

08:11

Lap 5/10

Four laps done. Bagnaia continues to lead, now 1.9s clear of Marquez, who has Acosta close behind.

Mir is getting closer to third too.

08:09

Lap 4/10

Onto lap four, Bagnaia is 1.4s clear now. Amazing pace.

Marquez still has Acosta behind, with Mir getting closer to that duo.