The Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang is the next key stage in Marc Marquez’s 2026 title campaign. The Ducati rider leads Jorge Martin by 19 points, while Martin is missing after attempting to return one week after breaking his wrist at Phillip Island. Marquez must finish first or second to retain a mathematical chance of fighting for the championship at the next MotoGP round in Qatar.

The reigning champion set the morning warm-up pace after taking second place behind KTM’s Pedro Acosta in Saturday’s wet Sprint. Alex Marquez starts from pole and will be looking for a stronger outcome after crashing while leading the Sprint. Acosta completes the front row in third place.

Grid order and the weather factor

The race is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm local time, or 7:00am UK time. Thunderstorms could influence the Grand Prix after the Sprint narrowly avoided a heavy downpour.

Ai Ogura starts fourth and Marco Bezzecchi fifth, with Aprilia depending on both riders to limit its losses in the riders’ and constructors’ standings. Bezzecchi finished third in the Sprint, while Trackhouse rider Ogura led most of the laps before slipping to fourth.

Fabio Di Giannantonio joins Ogura and Bezzecchi on the second row. Enea Bastianini, Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli make up row three, followed by Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir and Maverick Viñales on row four. Luca Marini, Diogo Moreira and Brad Binder occupy row five; Jack Miller, Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo start from row six; and Iker Lecuona and Augusto Fernandez form row seven.

Earlier at Sepang, David Alonso won the Malaysian Moto2 Grand Prix. Alonso has been announced as a MotoGP rider for 2027.