Метка: Malaysian GP

Lap one crash causes red flag



The Malaysian Grand Prix has been red-flagged after a multi-bike incident on the opening lap of the race.

TV images showed KTM rider Jack Miller falling off his bike at the entry to Turn 2, with his head then getting briefly tangled in the Yamaha M1 of Fabio Quartararo.

Miller’s team-mate Brad Binder was also involved in the melee.

Race control declared that all three riders are conscious, with the medical crew arriving on the scene to attend to Miller. 

Both Binder and Quartararo were able to return to their respective garages, although the latter was seen hobbling as he walked away from the track.

A red flag was shown before the end of the opening lap, with all remaining riders returning to the pitlane.

The restart procedure will begin at 15:20 local time, and the race will now run to 19 laps — three fewer than scheduled.

Francesco Bagnaia will  take the start from pole position on the factory Ducati ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin.

Update: Miller was later seen walking back to the KTM garage after returning from the medical centre. He will not take the restart.

 

2024 Malaysian GP — Opening lap crash



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MotoGP set to host finale in Barcelona after Valencia GP cancellation


MotoGP is poised to replace the cancelled Valencia GP with a new race in Barcelona, Motorsport.com understands.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is now set to stage the season finale on 17 November, having already hosted the sixth round of the championship back in May.

The development follows the decision to scrap the Valencia race on Friday due to devastating flooding in the region in recent days, with over 200 people having lost their lives according to the official figures.

Championship promoter Dorna previously stated that it will announce the venue and other details for the final round at a later date, as it scrambled to organise a replacement event.

Motorport.com has learned that the preferred option in the run-up to the Malaysian GP is Barcelona, with the series sticking to the original date of 17 November.

Barcelona has emerged as the prime candidate in the race against Qatar, which was previously seen as the most likely alternative.

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Barcelona was the most popular choice in the paddock, as many teams, especially in Moto2 and Moto3, are tight on budget at this stage of the season. 

Going back to Doha, where the season started eight months ago in March, would have been a considerable expense for a number of teams.

Although Qatar was seen as the least emotionally problematic situation given the distance to Spain, it would have meant making compromises on the logistical side. Added to that, the Losail circuit was also preparing to host its annual Formula 1 race on 1 December.

On the other hand, riders felt it was acceptable to race in Barcelona, which is located some 400km from Valencia

MotoGP spent Sunday morning hosting meetings with the Calalunya government to finalise the deal to race in Barcelona.

With the agreement in place between two parties, Ezpeleta met the MotoGP teams’ association IRTA at half past nine to provide the latest update on the situation.

In the next few hours, a protocol will be established for those that bought tickets for the original Valencia race.

Following the grand prix, an official test will be held at the same venue on Tuesday, 19 November.

 «We thought it was important to tell the riders before they went out on track yesterday, especially those in contention for positions, to confirm that there would be another event on the calendar,» Carlos Ezpeleta said on Sunday morning.

«It’s been a very challenging couple of days, much more so for the Community of Valencia of course, but we think that – given the situation the Championship is in, sporting wise, but also for fans across the world – we thought it was important to hold a final event of the season. We owe that to the paddock and our fans.

“We have been looking at all the possibilities we had, it’s very challenging to organise an event in two weeks, but during the last 48 hours we’ve looked at all possible alternatives and we think that Barcelona is the best possible place given the proximity to Valencia, given that a lot of people were already travelling through to get to the finale, and especially for fans – we think it’s the best possible place for them. We also know we will be able to help the Community of Valencia from that location as well.

“That’s why we’ve requested the Government of Catalunya to be able to hold the event there. They want to communicate and align themselves with both the Government of Spain and that of Valencia before confirming the event, and we hope that confirmation comes in the next 48 hours.

«But the urgency right now is Valencia – not confirming our GP. It’s something we can wait for and once it’s confirmed we’ll start working as hard as possible, as it’s definitely a challenge but we think there’s a lot of good we can do and we feel owe it to our fans.

“We want to thank the entire MotoGP community, the riders, and the teams, for their proactiveness, help, and support.”



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“I would not have won without first-corner lead” in Malaysian GP sprint


Jorge Martin says the sprint race at Sepang on Saturday could have had an entirely different outcome had he not toughed it out with polesitter Francesco Bagnaia to take the lead midway through the first corner.

As it happened, factory Ducati rider Bagnaia fell out of second place on the third lap of the race, leaving Martin (Pramac Ducati) to stretch his points advantage from 17 to 29 with a straightforward victory.

The Italian’s fall highlighted the difficulty of trying to follow and overtake another rider in MotoGP – as did Martin after the race.

“If I hadn’t taken first position straight away today, I wouldn’t have won,” said Martin. “I think Pecco would have won and I would have been second. So to start well is really important.

“Nowadays, either you are like Enea [Bastianini] who can come from behind, or it’s impossible to win if you’re not in first position at the beginning.”

Martin also showed some sympathy for Bagnaia having been caught out at the slow, left-hand Turn 9.

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“It’s been a really critical corner all weekend,” he added. “You have like three different asphalts on the perfect line. And at one point, there’s no asphalt! So it’s like motocross; super difficult. You need to ride a really precise line at that corner.

“I had a few moments there in my time attack yesterday and also today. And sometimes I had to [back off] there during the race too in order not to crash.”

Martin added that his sprint victory was not as easy as it looked after Bagnaia’s retirement.

“After Pecco’s crash, it was difficult to manage the situation,” said Martin. “But I was able to do it well. 

“You do have to think about the fact that Pecco has crashed. You think ‘be careful, you need to finish’. At one point I even thought I might have to [let Marc past] and finish second. 

“But I had a lead of eight-tenths, so it made no sense to wait for him. So I said ‘okay, let’s keep doing the thing you know how to do’. 

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I was really focused on my braking references, just trying to do everything the same without changing anything.”

Martin’s successful Saturday means he could wrap up his maiden championship in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

But he does not plan to take a particularly cautious approach or get bogged down in the permutations.

“When I try to relax, I get more nervous and everything gets more difficult,” he said when asked if he felt more breathing space with the extended points advantage.

“Today I was a bit nervous in the morning, so I said to Gino [Borsoi, his team manager], ‘Gino, I will go for it.’ I don’t want to finish second or third, I want to go for it. If Pecco is stronger, he will win. And if he’s not, he won’t’.

“Tomorrow will be a bit more of the same. If Pecco is much stronger, it’s okay. But I will do my best, because it’s the only way I can really be at 100% and focused.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

He noted that Bagnaia will be a dangerous competitor on Sunday given he has no choice but to win. 

“It’s a privilege to have this advantage at this point,” said Martin. “But it’s not over until it’s over.

“Tomorrow will be a really long race and Pecco will risk a lot to win. He has nothing to lose now – it’s all or nothing. To beat him under those conditions is really tough.”

However, Martin also echoed Bagnaia’s suspicion that the championship leader is unlikely to finish lower than second – despite his chaser’s hopes that other riders can take points off the Spaniard.

“We are a step in front of the others, so I think in the worst case I will try to finish second,” said Martin.

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“Winning Malaysian GP will not be enough”


Francesco Bagnaia has admitted he will need help from other riders to have any chance of winning the MotoGP world championship following his sprint crash on Saturday.

Falling out of the race on lap three while his title rival Jorge Martin went on to win meant Bagnaia’s points deficit grew from 17 to 29 points ahead of Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

This in turn puts Pramac Ducati rider Martin in a mathematical position to wrap up the title on Sunday, with one round still remaining.

The deficit is now such that Bagnaia concedes winning tomorrow’s race will not be enough if Martin simply follows him home second.

Although he would still theoretically be alive in the championship heading to the finale in that scenario, the factory Ducati rider knows he now needs other riders to take points off the Spaniard to have a realistic chance at the last round.

“Giving my maximum and winning the race will not be enough,” said Bagnaia. “So we will need something more.”

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

While a zero-score for Martin would be the ideal scenario for the Italian, the next-best thing would be for the likes of Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Enea Bastianini (factory Ducati) – who followed Martin home in the sprint – to take some points off the Spaniard on Sunday.

“Tomorrow I really hope Marc and Enea will find something to be close to us. [But the worst] case for Jorge [if nothing changes] is that he finishes second because we don’t have any rivals.

“But I will go like always tomorrow, I will try to win.”

After the sprint, Bagnaia also explained that he had not taken any additional risks heading into the tricky Turn 9 on the lap he fell.

The left-hander has caught out a number of riders so far on the Sepang weekend.

“As soon as I saw that Jorge started better, I waited and then I saw that the pace wasn’t that fast. So I thought, ‘okay, I will overtake, I will have a chance in the next laps’.

“On the first lap I was a bit too aggressive in that corner. I had a lot of movement from the front – and I didn’t crash.

“[Then] I said ‘okay, I will enter more calmly’. I was sure that the risk I was taking wasn’t over the limit. I was quite confident.

“I entered the corner a bit slower but I touched the bump at the apex and I lost the front.

“I don’t know how many laps I’ve done this weekend and in the past, and I’ve touched the bump many, many times without crashing. There is always a first time. It wasn’t the [ideal] moment but honestly, it’s something that can happen.

“It’s not the first time it has happened this season that I’ve told myself I will brake a bit [earlier] not to take any risk and I’ve crashed.”

Photos from Malaysian GP Qualifying and Sprint

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How Jorge Martin can wrap up the 2024 MotoGP title in Malaysian GP


Jorge Martin can seal the 2024 MotoGP title in the Malaysian Grand Prix after his nearest rival Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of Saturday’s sprint race at Sepang.

In what many see as the decisive moment in their championship scrap, Bagnaia lost the front end of his factory Ducati at the tricky uphill Turn 9 on lap 3 of 10, while running in second place behind Martin.

This has given the Pramac rider a massive 29-point lead in the championship standings, with just two grands prix and a sprint race left to run.

The 26-year-old will have his first match point in Sunday’s full-distance race as he aims to avenge for his title defeat to Bagnaia in 2023.

An early coronation could be crucial for the Spaniard, as the venue and date for the season finale is yet to be announced. Valencia was due to host the final round on 15-17 November, but heavy flooding in the region forced MotoGP to cancel the race just two weeks ahead of its scheduled date. A replacement round could take place in Jerez, Barcelona, Portimao or Qatar.

How Martin can wrap up the title in Malaysian GP

Martin Bagnaia
If Martin wins Bagnaia must finish third or lower
If Martin finishes second Bagnaia must finish fifth or lower
If Martin finishes third Bagnaia must finish ninth or lower
If Martin finishes fourth Bagnaia must finish 12th or lower
If Martin finishes fifth Bagnaia must finish 14th or lower
If Martin finishes sixth Bagnaia must finish 15th or lower
If Martin finishes seventh Bagnaia must not score points
If Martin finishes eight or lower The title will not be decided in Malaysia

To put it into simple words, Martin needs to extend his lead by at least nine points in order to be crowned the 2024 champion in Malaysia.

That means he must finish at least seventh in order to put the title out of Bagnaia’s reach.

Given the speed both Martin and Bagnaia have shown so far this weekend, it is likely that the two will finish on the podium.

If Martin wins the race, his title rival must finish third or lower for the championship to be decided early. If Bagnaia is able to follow Martin home in second place, that will mean the title fight will continue into the finale — albeit with a mammoth 34-point gap between the two.

A second-place finish for Martin would be enough if Bagnaia fails to finish higher than fifth.

The final spot on the podium would also suffice if the two-time champion has a difficult race and cannot finish inside the top eight.

The championship fight will carry over to the final round if Bagnaia wins the race or finishes second irrespective of Martin’s finishing position.

The opposite scenario

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

No matter where Martin finishes on Sunday, he will head to the final round as the championship leader.

Even if Bagnaia wins the grand prix and Martin fails to score, the Spaniard will still hold a four-point lead in the standings.

While Martin has already put one hand on the title, Bagnaia’s only option is to score the maximum number of points on Sunday and then hope for a miracle in the season finale. A total of 37 points would then be on offer in the last round.

Here’s how the championship picture would look like if Bagnaia wins the Malaysian GP and Martin finishes second or lower:

 Bagnaia Martin Points gap
Wins Finishes second 24
Wins Finishes third 20
Wins Finishes fourth 17
Wins Finishes fifth 15
Wins Finishes sixth 14
Wins Finishes seventh 13
Wins Finishes eighth 12
Wins Finishes ninth 11
Wins Finishes 10th 10
Wins  Finishes 11th 9
Wins  Finishes 12th 8
Wins  Finishes 13th 7
Wins  Finishes 14th 6
Wins  Finishes 15th 5
Wins  Fails to score a point / retires 4

Photos from Malaysian GP Qualifying and Sprint



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Martin closes on title with sprint win, Bagnaia crashes



Jorge Martin has a chance to wrap up the MotoGP world championship in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday after winning the sprint race at Sepang.

The Pramac Ducati rider’s points advantage over his title rival Francesco Bagnaia has grown from 17 to 29 points after Bagnaia crashed his factory Ducati while chasing Martin on lap three.

Martin will confirm himself as world champion in tomorrow’s grand prix if he can stretch his advantage over Bagnaia by a further nine points.

The Spaniard set up his sprint victory by getting into the lead over polesitter Bagnaia at the first corner, having made a superiorr launch from second on the grid. The two approached and entered the turn side-by-side but Martin, with the inside line, was able to edge clear at the apex.

That put the pressure back onto Bagnaia, whose points deficit meant he could take no other approach than try to overtake Martin during the course of the 10-lap race.

Bagnaia was able to shadow Martin until Turn 9 of the third lap, but then he asked too much of his Ducati in the dirty air and lost the front end.

That left Martin to take what looked like a comfortable win, although Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Enea Bastiani kept a close eye on him and tested his concentration in the intense Malaysian heat.

“It was a difficult race,” said Martin afterwards. “I had to be super precise and focused. It would have been really easy to make a mistake today.”

Just as Marquez could do nothing about Martin, so factory Ducati rider Bastianini could only shadow Marquez throughout. That allowed the eight-time world champion to grow his points advantage over fourth-placed Bastianini to 13 points.

The better part of five seconds behind the leading trio, Alex Marquez brought his Gresini Ducati machine home fourth after overtaking Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli on the second lap and holding his position from there.

The same lap two wobble that allowed Alex Marquez through also opened the door for Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo to seal what would become fifth place.

Morbidelli settled for sixth in a race that saw small gaps in the lower half of the top 10 but little in the way of overtaking activity.

Behind the Italian came a string of KTMs, with South African Brad Binder the best of them in seventh.

Fellow factory KTM rider Jack Miller held off Tech3 rookie Pedro Acosta for eighth, despite the Spaniard’s finest efforts to repeat his successful late attack on the Australian a week ago in Thailand.

VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi completed the top 10 ahead of Alex Rins (Yamaha) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia).

Luca Marini was the best Honda in 15th after LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco pulled out of the race with a technical failure.

Andrea Iannone finished 19th and second from last on his MotoGP return with VR46.

Photos from Malaysian GP Qualifying and Sprint



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MotoGP won’t hold season finale in Valencia; alternatives being discussed


Valencia will not hold the MotoGP season finale despite promotor Dorna’s initial plans to race there amid the tragic flooding in the region.

Dorna has officially announced plans to cancel the event and is looking for an alternative venue to host the race, probably at a later date than the scheduled 15-17 November weekend.

With the paddock set up at Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix, meetings are taking place between the parties involved in what is a very critical decision, given the sensitivity of the matter.

As early as Thursday, Dorna’s initial idea, coordinated with the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme), was to try to keep the Valencia circuit as the chosen venue for the last grand prix of the season.

In the hours that followed, the possibility of moving the race a week later to Sunday 24th November briefly emerged as an option – one that was even communicated to several riders on the MotoGP grid.

However, Motorsport.com understands that by Friday afternoon there had been a considerable change in viewpoint among Dorna bosses, who began to consider Valencia unfeasible.

With that in mind, the Spanish company’s directors are already working to find an alternative to close the title fight between Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia, which could be resolved this Sunday in Malaysia – although only in favour of the Spaniard. Martin would have to score 21 points more than the Italian to settle the championship early.

Photo by: Paco Alcobendas

«MotoGP stands with the Community of Valencia following the devastating floods that have affected the area. Our hearts are with all those who have been lost and those who have lost so much,» read statement from MotoGP.

«We have been in constant contact with the local authorities and the circuit to best assess how we can help and how we should proceed. We have a responsibility to every region where we race that goes far beyond the sport and the events.

«After carefully weighing up the potential positive impact of MotoGP racing in Valencia on delayed dates versus ensuring no single resource is diverted from the recovery efforts by the presence of MotoGP , the championship and local authorities have been obliged to cancel the 2024 Valencia GP.

«In lieu of racing in Valencia, MotoGP will instead race for Valencia. The championship will put our collective efforts behind backing the relief funds already in place to ensure our positive impact can connect with the area in the way it best serves the people and communities we have been part of for so long.

«Our efforts will begin during the Malaysian GP and continue at the final round of 2024, with a new venue and dates to be announced as soon as confirmed.

«Fans around the world, our athletes, and paddock deserve a sporting finale to the 2024 season, and one that can make a key contribution to supporting the communities we race in.

«Any further information regarding the season finale will be confirmed as soon as possible.»

The official death toll from the floods stood at 158 earlier on Friday, although forecasts point to a much higher figure given the number of people still missing.

In this context, in which up to 20 towns are without drinking water and the army is deployed in the area, Dorna’s directors have finally reached the conclusion that there seems to be no possible justification for organising a grand prix in Valencia.

There had already been very strong statements by riders such as Marc Marquez and Bagnaia, who on Friday insisted that he did not plan to travel to Valencia to race there, even if it would cost him the title.

“I hope they [at Dorna] take into consideration the fact that on an ethical level, with what is happening, it is not the right thing to do,” said the reigning champion. “Even at the cost of losing the ultimate goal for me, which is the title, I’m not willing to race in Valencia.”

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Motorsport.com understands that four alternatives are now being considered for a replacement finale: Qatar, Jerez, Barcelona and Portimao.

In the event that the Losail circuit is chosen, Formula 1 will occupy the track the week of 25 November to 1 December which would lead MotoGP to look for a date that would probably be the Sunday before (24 November).

What does seem clear is that the closing race of the season will not be held on the scheduled date (15-17 November).



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“It’s good I crashed today” in MotoGP Malaysian GP practice


MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin put a positive spin on today’s crash in Practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, saying it will help him to know where the limit is at the Sepang circuit.

Martin lost the front end of his Pramac Ducati at the tight first corner moments after seeing that his title rival Francesco Bagnaia had posted a faster time late in the session. 

The accident brought practice to an early end for Martin, but the Spaniard’s best time still put him second-fastest and directly into Q2 on Saturday.

While falling on a day when factory Ducati rider and two-time champion Bagnaia was fastest in both sessions could be seen as a psychological blow for Martin, there is no major consequence to the incident given that he comfortably made the top 10.

Nor does Martin subscribe to the idea that the mishap will rob him of any confidence as he defends a 17-point lead at the penultimate round of the championship.

“I think it’s also positive that I crashed today,” said Martin, who is chasing a maiden crown. “Because I can see the limit and understand why I crashed. So it’s good to crash today!

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I prefer to crash now than in the race. I like this track and the bike is working really well. I was feeling competitive throughout and I feel confident with our work.”

Martin confirmed that he had been trying to respond to Bagnaia’s lap of 1m57.679s.

“I was okay with my time attack, even if I almost crashed on my [previous] lap,” he said. “Then I went down the [start/finish] straight and saw I was second, so I said ‘okay, I will try to improve a bit more’. 

“But even at the first corner it was already too much, and I just crashed. 

“We [Martin and Bagnaia] were pushing – it was a normal day! We were pushing and still able to keep the gap between ourselves and the rest, so it’s impressive.”

Martin also explained that engine braking was a key factor in his crash, as was the case in previous accidents this season.

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“I think we are struggling a bit with the engine braking,” the 26-year-old added. “We have quite a lot of grip on the rear tyre, so with the Ducati you need to slide the rear on entry because otherwise the front pushes. That’s why I crashed. 

“So the thing is to be really clever about how you use the engine braking. It’s [more important] than the set-up. It’s much better to stop [working on] the set-up and work on the electronics.

“All the crashes I had this season during races, like Germany, Jerez and Mugello, were the same. The rear was pushing the front. So I’m trying to be really precise on that — today we didn’t make it and I crashed.”

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“Even if it means losing the title, I’m not willing to race in Valencia”


Double MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia has said he will boycott the season finale if it goes ahead in flood-hit Valencia as planned.

The factory Ducati rider, who is currently trying to reel in Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin as he chases a third straight title, is one of several to have voiced ethical concerns about sticking to the planned Valencia venue given the current flooding and loss of life in the region.

Despite the concerns of these riders and others in the paddock at this weekend’s penultimate event in Malaysia, Autosport understands that staging the race in Valencia remains the priority for MotoGP organisers – even if this means postponing the date from the originally planned November 15-17 weekend.

Having already outlined his moral issue with a Valencia race in the pre-Malaysian Grand Prix press conference on Thursday, Bagnaia dropped the bombshell on the first day of track action at Sepang. 

Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding

Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding

Photo by: Paco Alcobendas

“Even at the cost of losing the ultimate goal for me, which is to win the title, I am not willing to race in Valencia,” said the Italian, who trails Martin by 17 points ahead of the Malaysian GP.

“I very much hope that they will take into consideration the fact that on an ethical level and with what is happening it is not the right thing to do.” 

While Martin has said it would be better to race elsewhere, he confirmed on Friday that he would take part in the race if it goes ahead in Valencia.

«It is a very delicate situation, both for us riders and for Dorna. It seems very difficult and hard to go to Valencia, for everyone. I [will follow] the decision of Dorna and the government. If in the end they decide to hold the race there, we will have to go.»

Bagnaia got his weekend in Malaysia off to a perfect start on Friday by going fastest in FP1 and then ensuring his passage into Q2 by topping the times in Practice.

Martin was second-fastest in the latter session after falling in an attempt to respond to Bagnaia’s late time.

The points leader’s best lap was however just 0.050s slower than that of the man pursuing him for the title.

“All year long we’ve been neck and neck with Jorge,” reflected Bagnaia. “We are used to these fights.”

Bagnaia was then asked if leading both sessions was intended as a psychological strategy.

“It’s difficult to go out looking to finish first in both sessions on Friday,” he said. “I’ve only done it before at Assen.

“Jorge ended up crashing, but I don’t think it was because of this. There is always a bit of pressure, it’s normal. But our goal is to win, not to intimidate anyone.”

Photos from Malaysian GP Practice

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