MotoGP title ‘lost’ after Sepang withdrawal, says Martin, as Alex Marquez takes pole in Malaysia - The Straits Times
Aprilia Racing's Spanish rider Jorge Martin speaking to the media after withdrawing from the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix due to a broken wrist at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on Oct 31, 2026.
SEPANG, Malaysia - Aprilia’s Jorge Martin said on Oct 31 that his MotoGP title challenge was effectively over after withdrawing from the ongoing Malaysian Grand Prix to continue his recovery from a wrist fracture.
The 2024 champion pulled out before qualifying at Sepang after struggling with the injury he suffered in a sprint-race crash at Phillip Island last weekend.
The 28-year-old trails championship leader Marc Marquez by 10 points with four rounds remaining, including the Malaysian GP.
“I don’t have to think about the championship. Maybe I can win it, but for me, it’s already lost,” Martin told reporters.
“For sure I will fight till the end, not only for me, because at the end of the day I’m already a champion, but for my team, for my people, I will fight till the end, I will try again in Qatar. Otherwise I would stay at home and rest.”
Martin said he had pushed to race at Sepang but lacked the strength under braking needed to compete at the highest level, prompting the decision to withdraw rather than risk aggravating the injury.
“I felt that I could ride with almost no pain, but for maybe one lap,” the Spaniard said.
“After that I started to have a lot of pain, I couldn’t be constant, so watching a bit the lap times and my performance, we decided to stop, to try to wait.
“We thought together with the team that the effort I was doing was too much to continue and nothing to gain. It was just going to be very difficult even to score one point.”
Gresini Racing MotoGP’s Alex Marquez celebrating after qualifying in pole position along with second-placed Marc Marquez of Ducati Lenovo and third-placed Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez stormed to a thrilling pole position on Oct 31, snatching pole from elder brother and reigning champion Marc Marquez with his final flying lap at the Sepang International Circuit and denying the Ducati rider after he appeared set to claim top spot in the closing moments of Q2.
The pole was only the third of Alex’s MotoGP career and his first of the season.
“I wasn’t expecting to make that lap time, honestly speaking, but already the first time attack was really good for me,” Alex said.
“It was already in the 1:56s, so much better than I was expecting... I couldn’t believe it. I put everything together. Everything was working really well on the bike.”
Martin, who cut short the Oct 30 practice to aid his recovery from the injury suffered in a sprint-race crash at Phillip Island last weekend, briefly took part in the morning practice session on Oct 31.
However, the Spaniard was struggling visibly and did not take part in Q1, ending his weekend.
“We decided together with the doctors to not continue,” Aprilia team manager Paolo Bonora told broadcasters.
“His feeling was better, to be honest, compared to yesterday, but he was not able to force during the braking, so we decided all together to not continue and to keep focus on the Doha GP.”
Alex clocked a lap of 1min 56.493sec to secure pole, with Marc finishing 0.070sec adrift in second after surging from fifth position to briefly put himself on course for pole.
Pedro Acosta completed the front row after another impressive qualifying performance for KTM.
Aprilia’s Ai Ogura and Marco Bezzecchi qualified fourth and fifth, respectively, with Fabio Di Giannantonio taking sixth in a tightly contested session.
LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco and Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia advanced to Q2 after navigating the opening qualifying session, but Bagnaia endured a frustrating afternoon.
The Italian briefly climbed up the order before running wide at Turn One and venting his frustration by striking the windscreen of his Ducati after returning to the pits. REUTERS
