Despite missing out on pole yesterday, it was Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa that went fastest in warm-up ahead of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang in front of Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo.

Temperatures were the hottest they have been so far, which at the Sepang track results in reduced grip levels. This saw times significantly down on yesterday’s qualifying, with Pedrosa’s best time coming in at 2.01’551, over a second down on pole position. His teammate Stoner looked to have made a step forward in the short session, putting his bike just over two-tenths behind the Spaniard. Today’s pole position starter, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Lorenzo, was marginally behind the Australian. Lorenzo stands a mathematical chance of winning the title today, however he would have to win the race and have Pedrosa not finish any higher than 13th.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Andrea Dovizioso, who has gelled well with the track, was on course to improve his time from fourth, yet lost the front going into the final turn. This uncharacteristic error from the Italian highlighted the unpredictability of the circuit’s grip levels. Behind him in fifth was his teammate Cal Crutchlow, followed by San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Álvaro Bautista. Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi came in ninth, whilst Power Electronics Aspar’s Aleix Espargaró was top CRT in 13th.


It was Tuenti Movil HP 40’s Pol Espargaró who led the morning warm-up for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang in front of Bradley Smith and Marc Márquez.

Espargaró, who will start today’s race from pole-position, set a fastest time of 2.07’945, marginally ousting Tech 3 Racing’s Bradley Smith into second, who does not look to be suffering any ill-effects from his broken toes in his left foot sustained in Friday practice. Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s Marc Márquez, who stands a good chance of clinching the world title today, went third quickest, yet looks like he will have his work cut out with Espargaró in the race, who is the only man that can now prevent him taking it.

Marc VDS Racing Team’s Mika Kallio set the fourth fastest time, ahead of NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Alex de Angelis, who seemed to have found some extra pace overnight. Espargaró’s teammate Esteve Rabat came in sixth, ahead of a slightly improved Andrea Iannone on his Speed Master machine.


In sunny conditions during warm-up for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang it was AirAsia-SIC-Ajo’s pole-man Zulfahmi Khairuddin who went quickest ahead of Miguel Oliveira and Danny Kent.

Today’s pole-sitter did not hang around as the grid got their last taste of the circuit before the race by clocking the quickest time of 2.15’039, with Estrella Galicia 0,0’s Oliveira moving his way up the ranks to end the morning session in second. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Kent, who had looked somewhat subdued most weekend, made his podium intentions clear by setting the third quickest time.

His teammate Sandro Cortese, who is tipped to clinch the Moto3™ title today, went fourth fastest, ahead of Oliveira’s teammate Alex Rins. Today’s front row was fully represented in the top six, with Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2’s Jonas Folger finishing just behind the Spaniard. There was one crash in the session from San Carlo Gresini Moto3’s Niccolò Antonelli, who was fortunate to escape with just bruises.

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