Enea Bastianini, Malaysian MotoGP, 10 November

2023 Malaysian MotoGP: Saturday Sprint LIVE UPDATES!

Just 13 points separate reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia from title rival Jorge Martin heading into the final triple header of the MotoGP season, starting at Sepang this weekend.

While Bagnaia holds a narrow points advantage, momentum is back with Martin after taking a perfect double of Sprint and GP victories last time out in Thailand.

However, Martin was also among several riders to receive an official warning for low tyre pressure in the Buriram GP. Another infringement in the remaining rounds will result in the Pramac rider receiving a 3s post-race time penalty.

Aside from the title fight, the big news this weekend is a wild-card entry for reigning World Superbike champion Alvaro Bautista. The Spaniard, making his first MotoGP start since 2018, is riding a factory spec Ducati GP23 in Aruba.It colours.

Bautista is not the only WorldSBK rider on the grid with Alex Rins, who missed Thailand after undergoing further leg surgery, replaced by Iker Lecuona for both Sepang and next weekend’s Qatar round.

Sepang was the venue for the opening pre-season test of the year, in February, when Luca Marini (fastest), Francesco Bagnaia, Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin were all covered by 0.315s at the top of the timesheets.

Weather forecasts currently warn of an increasing risk of rain as the weekend goes on, rising to over 90% by lunchtime on Sunday.

Alex Marquez was fastest in Friday practice, ahead of Martin and the KTMs of Jack Miller and Brad Binder, with Bagnaia in eighth...

RobertJones_1

11 Nov 2023

02:51

Alex Marquez is straight back on top of the timesheets this morning.

02:50

The fastest lap time on Friday was 1m 57.823s by Alex Marquez. This morning's times don't count towards Qualifying 1/Qualifying 2, the final practice session is purely to prepare for the races.

02:49

Almost all riders are on the medium compound tyres, front and rear, which Michelin predicts to be the favourite choice for the races.

This is what Michelin's Piero Taramasso had to say after Friday:

'The track is difficult, very abrasive, with a new tarmac between turns 7 and 12. But the riders told us that in places there were more bumps and less grip.

'Lap after lap, however, the times improved because the consistency of the tyres is very good, as is the control of wear. The reference times are already very close to the absolute record.

'Tomorrow for the Tissot Sprint, I think the choice will be the Medium compound for both front and rear. In our opinion, this will be the choice made 90% of the time for the Grand Prix on Sunday.'

02:46

The green flags are waved and the 23 MotoGP riders, including Ducati wild-card Alvaro Bautista and LCR replacement Iker Lecuona, head out to start final practice.

02:44

29 degrees air temp and 40 degrees on track this morning.

It's set to be dry for practice and qualifying, but afternoon thunderstorms are a risk today and tomorrow.

02:36

The Moto2 session comes to an end (Fermin Aldeguer fastest, champion elect Pedro Acosta fourth, title rival Tony Arbolino just 17th and heading for Qualifying 1).

The delayed MotoGP final practice starts in just under ten minutes.

02:32

The new MotoGP final practice and qualifying schedule will be: