Sepang, Malaysia – The Malaysian Grand Prix got underway with stifling heat, cloudy skies and the promise of a draining 20-lap distance ahead. Brad Binder and Jack Miller had aimed to stretch a reasonably positive weekend so far into the critical moment of the meeting: the pair had qualified in 10th and 7th respectively and had scored 7th and 8th in the Saturday Sprint.
Unfortunately, contact through the exit of Turn 1 and into Turn 2 and the most chaotic moment of the race collected both Binder and Miller as contact ensued, and multiple riders were affected.
Binder came back to the pitbox but felt discomfort with his left shoulder. Miller went to the medical center and was given the all-clear but did not reform on the grid.
The ‘second’ race was reduced to 19 laps and got off to a spectacular start as Martin, who is chasing a maiden title, repeatedly attempted to make a move on Bagnaia stick during the first four laps.
Thanks to Martin’s scant regard for the idea of following Bagnaia home and banking 20 points, their gripping battle was the longest protracted spell of wheel-to-wheel racing between the championship protagonists this season.
But Martin’s slight mistake towards the end of lap four allowed Bagnaia a little breathing space to ride normal lines. He responded with the fastest lap on the fifth tour, which finally broke Martin’s challenge for victory.
Bagnaia was able to control the rest of the race to win by just over three seconds with Martin’s choice to go against the grain and run the medium front tyre not having a meaningful impact on the outcome.
Binder is 6th in the MotoGP table: three points behind Pedro Acosta. Miller is 14th while KTM is the second best Constructor in the standings. The date and location of the twentieth and final Grand Prix of the season will be announced in due course.
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Luckily nobody injured today. It was very bad to see. Brad tried to make the second start but the pain in shoulder meant it was not safe to start. He’ll have a check tomorrow and Jack had a check in the medical center but was then back in the box and was OK. We were unlucky today but then fortunate in another way and we have one more chance to make some results now this season.”