What a race, one of the best and most intense this year, marked by the epic duel between Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín, which the Italian won. Red flag after the first start of the race due to a scary crash between Fabio Quartararo, Brad Binder and Jack Miller.
This was the most anticipated race of the weekend with an extra pinch of salt after Pecco Bagnaia crashed in yesterday’s Sprint and Jorge Martín could be champion today under certain conditions.
Bagnaia started from pole position, with Martín and Álex Márquez completing the front row of the grid, while Franco Morbidelli, Marc Márquez and Enea Bastianiani made up the second.
A very even start to the race between Martín and Bagnaia with the Italian being very aggressive, touching the Spaniard and moving to the front of the race, with chaos ensuing from the start with a crash involving a number of riders at turn 2 and the flag being red-flagged.
Fabio Quartararo, Jack Miller and Brad Binder were involved in a chaotic crash, with Miller inspiring more caution as he had a stronger impact on the grid. Watch the scary moment in the video below:
After a slightly longer break to clean up the track and get the riders back on their feet, and the bikes undergoing some urgent repairs in the garage, Miller didn’t return to the track and was therefore out of the race, and was seen shortly afterwards walking out of the circuit’s medical center on his own two feet, apparently well. Great news!
Incredible to see! 🙌@jackmilleraus walking and looking OK#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/V14C9ZFElB
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 3, 2024
As the race resumed Bagnaia had a cleaner start and was in front, but Martín responded and briefly moved into the lead as Bagnaia came back to the front.
What a top-notch first few laps, with Bagnaia and Martín having a truly epic battle on a par with some of the best in recent times, with both riders wanting to be at the front. You pass, I overtake. Just watch!
Full respect to them both!
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 3, 2024
This is two of the best riders on earth riding at their absolute best with everything on the line!
What bravery this is! 🔥#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 | #TheRematch 🏁 pic.twitter.com/mXayNnmjZg
A battle of two true champions, with Bagnaia having to take risks to try and make up the gap to Martín. In the space of three laps there were more than 10 (joint) overtakes on both sides.
Ohhhh this is AWESOME!
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 3, 2024
The composure from them both! Fastest lap to Bagnaia! 🛑#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 | #TheRematch 🏁 pic.twitter.com/B6gytuK5P4
Bagnaia, meanwhile, was starting to slip away at the front and Martín was seemingly managing the race and thus staying behind his opponent.
With 12 laps to go, #1 was already 1.1s ahead of the Pramac Racing rider. Joan Mir crashed and was out of the race.
Marc Márquez, who was 0.85s behind Martín, crashed unexpectedly at turn 15. Enea Bastianini came in third, while Márquez returned to the race in 17th. The fight for third place in the standings was also in full swing!
OH @marcmarquez93 is gone! 💥
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 3, 2024
He was pulling off miracles sticking with the GP24s in front of him! #MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 | #TheRematch 🏁 pic.twitter.com/LjlgFBBF7s
Two minutes later Morbidelli also went down, and just like Márquez he was back in the race, and it was expected that they would soon meet to battle for 16th place.
With ten laps to go, this was the top ten: Bagnaia, Martín, Bastianini, Á. Márquez, Pedro Acosta, Quartararo, Maverick Viñales, Álex Rins, Johann Zarco and Marco Bezzecchi. Three Japanese bikes in the top ten and more signs that Yamaha and Honda’s recovery could be proceeding slowly but gradually.
With eight laps to go, it looked like Bagnaia was not going to miss out on the win, and he was already more than 2s ahead of Martín. Bastianini remained third at 6.419s behind the #89.
Over the next few laps Martín gained half a second on Bagnaia, but then he again seemed happy with second place and Bagnaia once again gained time on the Spaniard, with 2.3s dictating the gap for the time being.
The race ended shortly afterwards with Bagnaia confirming the win and avoiding a potential match point for Martín’s title in Sepang.