Sepang MotoGP pre-race stats pack

Words and images courtesy MGP

This weekend will be the 32nd Malaysian Grand Prix, which has been held every year since the first visit in 1991 except in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

The Malaysian GP has taken place at three circuits: Shah Alam, Johor and Sepang. The first was at Shah Alam in 1991 and saw a debut win in the premier class for John Kocinski riding a Yamaha. Italian riders dominated the smaller classes with Luca Cadalora (Honda) winning the 250cc race and Loris Capirossi (Honda) the 125cc race. Shah Alam hosted for seven for years before the GP was held at Johor in 1998. From 1999, the GP moved to Sepang. This will be the 24th time that Sepang has hosted the event.

Malaysia is one of eight different Asian countries to host a GP (all solo classes) along with Indonesia, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, China, Qatar, and India.

Petronas Sepang International Circuit is one of the 13 different circuits that have hosted in Asia so far: Motegi (72 races), Sepang (68), Lusail (65), Suzuka (56), Shah Alam (21), Buriram (15), Shanghai (12), Istanbul Park (9), Mandalika (9), Fisco/Fuji (8), Sentul (6), Johor (3) and Buddh (3).

MOST SUCCESSFUL RIDERS AT SEPANG:

Valentino Rossi 6 (5 x MotoGP, 1 x 500cc) – Dani Pedrosa 5 (3 x MotoGP, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc) – Casey Stoner 4 (2 x MotoGP, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc) – Marc Marquez 3 (2 x MotoGP, 1 x 125cc) – Maverick Viñales 3 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x Moto2, 1 x 125cc).

RACES AT SEPANG (68): 19 MotoGP, 3 500cc, 12 Moto2, 11 250cc, 10 Moto3, 13 125cc

FACTORIES AT SEPANG: BEST RESULTS

Most wins: Honda 7 – Ducati 7 – Yamaha 6 – Suzuki 2

Honda: In the MotoGP era, Honda have had six wins at Sepang, including four in a row from 2012 to 2015, with Dani Pedrosa (2012, 2013 and 2015) and Marc Marquez (2014). The most recent Honda win at the track was Marc Marquez in 2018 after qualifying on pole, although he got a grid penalty and started from seventh.

Ducati: Ducati have had seven MotoGP wins with five different riders here: Loris Capirossi (2005), Casey Stoner (2007 and 2009), Andrea Dovizioso (2016 and 2017), Francesco Bagnaia (2022) and Enea Bastianini (2023).

Yamaha: Yamaha have had six MotoGP wins here, four with Valentino Rossi (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010), one with Max Biaggi (2002) and one with Maverick Viñales (2019).

Aprilia: Aprilia’s best MotoGP result here is P7 with Alvaro Bautista in 2016. In 2023, Maverick Viñales was the top Aprilia in 11th.

KTM: KTM’s best MotoGP result here is P8 scored with Brad Binder in 2022 and Jack Miller in 2023.

Eight

8 current riders on the grid have MotoGP podiums here: M. Marquez (4), Johann Zarco (2), Bagnaia (2), Bastianini (2), Alex Rins (1), Maverick Viñales (1), Fabio Quartararo (1) and Alex Marquez (1). 4 have taken pole:

M. Marquez (3), Quartararo (1), Martin (1) and Bagnaia (1).

Who can win what: Malaysian GP

MotoGP World Championship: Jorge Martin

Martin could have a chance to clinch his first MotoGP World Championship at the Malaysian GP. His only rival is Bagnaia, 17 points behind. Martin would need to be more than 37 points ahead by the end of the GP to take the crown, so the Sprint results will decide whether he has match point on Sunday. Martin would be the first rider from an Independent Team to take the crown in the MotoGP era, and first since Valentino Rossi in 2001.

MotoGP Independent Teams’ Championship: Prima Pramac Racing

With a 116-point lead over Gresini Racing MotoGP, Prima Pramac Racing could wrap up the title of top Independent team for 2024 if they leave the Malaysian GP with a more than 66-point advantage.

Moto2 Constructors World Championship: Kalex

With a 14-point advantage, Kalex can clinch the Moto2 Constructors’ World Championship if they finish the race with a more than 25 points or more advantage over Boscoscuro.

Moto2 Rookie of the Year: Senna Agius

Senna Agius can win the fight for the Rookie of the Year if he finishes the race with a more than 25-point advantage. He is currently five points ahead of Diogo Moreira and 23 ahead of Deniz Öncü.

Moto3 Rookie of the Year: Angel Piqueras

Angel Piqueras can win the fight for the Rookie of the Year if he finishes the race with a more than 25-point advantage over his only rival Luca Lunetta, who is 31 points behind him.

WHAT HAPPENS IF…

150 – If Marc Marquez finishes on the podium at Sepang, it will be his 150th Grand Prix podium, just two fewer than Jorge Lorenzo, who is fourth on the list of riders with most podiums.

79 – If at least one Ducati qualifies in the top three, it will be the 79th consecutive race that a Ducati rider starts on the front row, a run that stretches back to Valencia 2020.

65 – Ducati are on a streak of 64 consecutive GP races with at least one rider on the podium. If they take a podium this weekend, they will extend their own record to 65.

50 – If Bagnaia finishes on the podium at Sepang, it will be his 50th premier class podium, just one fewer than MotoGP Legends Kevin Schwantz and Alex Criville.

50 – If Bastianini finishes on the podium, it will be his 50th podium across all classes.
21 – With 20 poles so far in MotoGP, all with Ducati, Jorge Martin could equal Casey Stoner in second on the

list of the Ducati riders with most poles in the class. Bagnaia leads with 22.

20 – Pedro Acosta will be 20 years and 162 days old on Sunday. If he wins, he will become the second-youngest premier class winner after Marc Marquez (20 years 63 days old in Austin in 2013).

18 – With 17 wins for far this year, Ducati will be aiming to extend their record of the most wins in a single premier class season for the same manufacturer to 18.

16 – If Ducati win, it will be Ducati’s 16th MotoGP GP win in a row, extending the personal record for the Bologna factory. The last manufacturer with 16 (or more) premier class wins in a row is Honda’s 22 wins in a row from Malaysia 1997 to the Dutch TT in 1998.

10 – A win for Bagnaia would be his 10th of the year, further ensuring this is his best premier class season in terms of wins. He would also be the first rider to take 10 (or more) wins in a single MotoGP season since Marc Marquez in 2019 (12). The club of riders who have 10 or more wins in a single MotoGP season currently only comprises Marc Marquez (13 – 2014, 12 – 2019), Valentino Rossi (11 – 2002, 2005) and Casey Stoner (10 – 2007, 2011). Jorge Lorenzo’s maximum win count was nine.

6 – There are six full-time riders on the grid who could take their maiden MotoGP win this weekend: Alex Marquez, Raul Fernandez, Luca Marini, Takaaki Nakagami, Augusto Fernandez and rookie Pedro Acosta.

1 – Aprilia and KTM riders could give their factory a maiden premier class win at Sepang.

ON THIS DAY…

October 31st

At the 1999 Argentinian GP held at Buenos Aires, Emilio Alzamora finished second behind Marco Melandri to clinch the title by a single point and without winning any race during the season, becoming the second rider (solo classes) to do so along with Manuel Herreros in 80cc in 1989.

November 2nd

At the 2003 Valencia GP, MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi took the last of his 33 premier class wins with Honda, running a special “Austin Powers” livery, before switching to Yamaha in 2004.

At the same GP, MotoGP Legend Casey Stoner won in the 125cc class for the first of the 45 GP wins he took in his career.

November 3rd

At the 2002 Valencia GP, MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa won in the 125cc class for the first of his 54 GP wins, all achieved with Honda. This is also the first of his seven GP wins at Valencia.

At the 2001 Rio GP held at Jacarepagua, Valentino Rossi won the last ever 500cc race from Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi. The race was stopped at the end of five out of 24 laps due to rain, and started again for 20 laps.

At the same GP, MotoGP Legend Daijiro Kato won in 250cc, taking his 11th win of the season, which is still the record for most wins in a 250cc/Moto2 season.

At the same GP, Manuel Poggiali finished the 125cc race in fifth place to become the first Sammarinese rider to take a title in the history of GP racing.

PREVIOUSLY AT SEPANG:

#1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has finished on the podium four times at Sepang, including two wins: a win in Moto3 in 2016 (riding a Mahindra) and in MotoGP in 2022, his seventh and last win of that season, extending his Championship lead over Fabio Quartararo to 23 points. His other podiums are P3s in 2018 in Moto2 which was enough for him to take the title and in 2023 in MotoGP (from pole). He also finished P3 in the Sprint in 2023.

#5 Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) has five podiums here, including two wins: in Moto2 in 2015 and in 2016 from pole to clinch his second Moto2 title, which made him the first (and so far only) rider to defend the title since Moto2 was introduced in 2010. His other podiums are P3 in 125cc in 2011 and in MotoGP in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, he qualified second in MotoGP but started from pole after a penalty for Marc Marquez.

#10 Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) took his maiden GP win at Sepang in 2018 in Moto2. He finished P10 here in 2023 in MotoGP, for the best result of his two visits at the track in the class.

#12 Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) has three wins at Sepang: in 125cc in 2011 (his rookie season in GP racing), in Moto2 in 2014 (the last of his four wins in his only Moto2 season) and in MotoGP in 2019. He finished P11 here in 2023 as the only Aprilia rider across the line.

#20 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) has finished on the podium here once: P3 in MotoGP in 2022. He also qualified on pole here in 2019 (the fifth of his sixth poles in his rookie season). He finished P5 here in 2023, his most recent top five finish in the class.

#21 Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) has finished on the podium here twice, both times in Moto2: P2 in 2016 and P3 in 2017 to take the title. His best MotoGP result here is P6 in 2019.

#23 Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) finished on the podium four times at Sepang: P3s in Moto3 in both 2017 and 2018, P2 in MotoGP in 2022, and a win in 2023 (his only win and podium of 2023).

#25 Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) has raced three times at Sepang with a best result of P14 in Moto3 in 2019. His best MotoGP result here is P15 scored in 2022, and he retired from the race in 2023 due to a technical issue.

#29 Andrea Iannone (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) has one podium at Sepang: P3 in Moto2 in 2010. He took his first pole here in 125cc in 2008. On his seven visits to the track in MotoGP, he crossed the line only once, finishing 17th in 2017 riding a Suzuki.

#30 Takaaki Nakagami (Idemistu Honda LCR)’s best result at Sepang is P4, scored in Moto2 in 2015. He has raced here in MotoGP only twice, in 2018 (P14) and in 2023 (P18). In 2019, he missed the Malaysian GP after a shoulder surgery (he was replaced by Johann Zarco) and in 2022, he also missed the Malaysian GP following a hand injury sustained earlier in Aragon (he was replaced by Tetsuta Nagashima).

#31 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) has raced at Sepang twice, in 2022 and 2023, both times in Moto2, and finished P2 in 2023 to clinch his second Grand Prix title.

#32 Lorenzo Savadori (Trackhouse Racing) has raced at Sepang only once in GP racing, in 125cc in 2010, but retired from the race. He also raced here in WorldSBK in 2016, with a best result of P14 in Race 2.

#33 Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has finished on the podium three times at Sepang, including a win: P2 in Moto3 in 2015 and in Moto2 in 2017, and a win in Moto2 in 2019. He finished P8 in his first MotoGP race here in 2022, for his best result in the class at the track, as well as best KTM result, equalled in 2023 by Miller.

#36 Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) won in Moto3 in 2017 which was his 10th win of the season to equal Marc Marquez (2010) and Fausto Gresini (1987). Only Valentino Rossi and David Alonso have more wins in a single 125cc/Moto3 season with 11 wins in 1997 and 12 in 2024 (so far), respectively. His best MotoGP result here is P10 scored in 2019, despite a Long Lap penalty after an incident with Zarco.

#37 Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) has a best result of P4 at Sepang, scored in Moto2 in 2022. With that P4, he reclaimed the Championship lead from Ai Ogura. He finished P14 in his first MotoGP race here in 2023.

#41 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)’s best MotoGP result at Sepang is P7, scored in 2015 (with Suzuki). His best result here in the class with Aprilia is P10 in 2022.

#42 Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) has three podiums here: P2 in 2013, P3 in 2014 in Moto3 and P2 in MotoGP in 2018. He finished P5 over his last two MotoGP races here in 2019 and 2022. He missed the 2023 Malaysian GP as he underwent surgery on his leg, and he was replaced by Iker Lecuona.

#43 Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has finished on the podium once at Sepang, P2 in Moto3 in 2014. His best MotoGP result here is P6 scored in 2022 (with Ducati). He finished P8 in 2023, equalling KTM’s best result in the class here from Brad Binder in 2022.

#72 Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) has competed three times in Sepang in smaller classes, once in Moto2 (2019) and twice in Moto3 (2017 and 2018) and scored points only once, finishing P5 in Moto3 in 2018. However, his performance significantly improved during his MotoGP debut at this circuit in 2022, where he finished P4, equaling his second-best result in the class at that time.

#73 Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) has two podiums here: P2s in 2019 in Moto2 to clinch the title, and in 2023 in MotoGP. He took his second and his most recent Sprint win here in 2023.

#89 Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has finished on the podium twice at Sepang, both times in Moto3, including a win: P2 in 2017 and a win in 2018 (from pole) to clinch the title. In 2022, he qualified on pole for his first race in MotoGP at Sepang, led the opening six laps of the race before crashing out. In 2023, he finished P4 in the race after finished P2 in the Sprint.

#93 Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) has won three times at Sepang: in 125cc in 2010, and in MotoGP in both 2014 and 2018. His two other podiums are: P2s in MotoGP in 2013, and in 2019 after qualifying 11th following a big highside at Turn 2 in Q2 following Fabio Quartararo (he also made a big save at the same corner in FP1).