Marc Márquez opened the 2026 Malaysian MotoGP weekend at Sepang by topping Friday morning’s FP1. The Ducati rider needed only three laps to produce the session’s sole 1m 58s time, then remained in front almost throughout the run apart from its first six minutes.

Marco Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta finished level in second, nearly half a second behind Márquez. The morning order should be read with the tyre strategy in mind: none of the front-runners used the soft rear, while Raúl Fernández was the only rider to do so. Most of the field chose the new medium rear compound; some also tried the hard option, which corresponds to last year’s medium.

Martín clears the return test

Jorge Martín provided the session’s other major storyline. The Aprilia rider was back on track six days after fracturing his wrist at Phillip Island, completed 12 laps and placed 20th, 1.8 seconds off Márquez’s pace. A post-session medical review then cleared Martín to race and continue through the Malaysian weekend.

That clearance contrasts with the situation of Aprilia’s other injured rider. Raúl Fernández is out of the Malaysian event after finding it difficult to brake with his injured finger. Honda HRC team-mates Joan Mir and Luca Marini were also returning from illness, ending FP1 in 14th and 18th respectively.

Lecuona’s front mudguard brings out the red flag

The session was halted shortly before the final ten minutes when pieces from Iker Lecuona’s front mudguard had to be cleared. The component broke apart after touching the front wheel while he was braking for the final hairpin. Lecuona, who is replacing injured Fermín Aldeguer, made it back to the pits without difficulty.

Afternoon Practice starts at 3pm local time and will determine the ten riders who gain direct access to Qualifying 2. A substantial improvement in lap times is expected once the soft rear tyre enters the afternoon strategy.