MotoGP Malaysian GP: Alex Marquez claims pole from Marc Marquez; Jorge Martin out

Alex Marquez edged out Marc Marquez to claim pole for the Malaysian Grand Prix after Ducati’s strength in Saturday qualifying at Sepang. The elder Marquez had topped Friday’s action, but in Q2 it was Alex who delivered when it counted, winning by just 0.070s with a best lap of 1:56.493. Pedro Acosta completed the front row for KTM, while Ai Ogura emerged as the leading Aprilia rider in fourth ahead of Marco Bezzecchi. Jorge Martin announced minutes into Q1 that he would sit out the rest of the weekend due to injury, changing the title outlook for Marc. The rest of the grid featured Johann Zarco in eighth after coming through Q1, Francesco Bagnaia ninth after crashing his frustration into his Ducati windscreen, and Yamaha’s four M1s at the bottom.