Alex Marquez Dominates Malaysian Grand Prix as Bagnaia Falters at Sepang

Sepang, Malaysia — October 27, 2025: After securing second place in the MotoGP World Championship on Saturday, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) capped off a sensational weekend with a flawless victory in the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix. The Spaniard’s commanding ride saw him finish 2.6 seconds ahead of rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), while Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) claimed an unexpected podium after Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered a late mechanical issue.

Marquez Seizes Control Early

From lights out, Bagnaia stormed into the lead from pole, repeating his Sprint start as Acosta slotted into second. However, Marquez wasted no time attacking, first overtaking Acosta at Turn 4 before making a bold move on Bagnaia a lap later to seize the race lead. From that moment on, the #73 Gresini Ducati never looked back.

Behind him, the battle between Bagnaia and Acosta delivered breathtaking action, with the KTM rider repeatedly challenging the reigning World Champion. Their duel allowed Marquez to stretch his advantage to nearly a second as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Joan Mir engaged in a fierce scrap for fourth.

Acosta Shines, Bagnaia Battles Issues

As the race entered its second half, Acosta finally made his move on Bagnaia at Turn 11 to take second place, but by then Marquez had built a comfortable two-second buffer. Moments later, Bagnaia’s race unraveled when his Ducati developed a rear-end problem, forcing him to drop down the order and eventually retire — a heartbreaking end to what had been a strong weekend for the Italian.

The setback promoted Mir to third, handing Honda a welcome podium after their Sprint disappointment on Saturday.

Marquez Seals First Non-Spanish Win

Marquez crossed the finish line 2.8 seconds clear of Acosta to secure his first-ever MotoGP win outside Spain, capping off an incredible double after clinching P2 in the championship standings the previous day. Acosta’s runner-up finish reaffirmed his growing reputation as MotoGP’s brightest new star, while Mir celebrated his second Sunday podium of 2025.

Top 10 Finishers – Malaysian Grand Prix 2025

1. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) – 40:03.285
2. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +2.6s
3. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) +5.1s
4. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) +6.5s
5. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) +7.0s
6. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
7. Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3)
8. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol)
9. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
10. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team)

Championship Picture: Fight for P3 Heats Up

With Marquez now confirmed as runner-up in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, the battle for third remains tight. Marco Bezzecchi’s 11th-place finish allowed him to reclaim P3 in the standings, just five points ahead of Bagnaia, while Acosta remains mathematically in contention — 31 points adrift with two rounds to go.

Next up is Portimão, where the Algarve International Circuit will host Round 21 of the season.