Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Alex Marquez takes Malaysian GP pole as Jorge Martin withdraws
Alex Marquez claimed pole for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia, on Saturday.
He beat his older brother Marc Marquez by 0.070 seconds in qualifying.
Pedro Acosta took third place for KTM, while Aprilia rider Ai Ogura qualified fourth.
Jorge Martin withdrew from the weekend with an injury, leaving the championship contender out of the race event.
The withdrawal boosts Marc Marquez’s hopes of winning a 10th world title, though qualifying alone does not decide the race.
Alex Marquez won last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix, and he will start this race from the front of the grid.
The race is next, but the source does not give its date or time.
Alex Marquez took pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
He beat his brother Marc Marquez by 0.070 seconds in Q2.
Pedro Acosta qualified third to complete the front row.
Jorge Martin withdrew from the weekend because of his wrist injury.
Martin’s absence left points leader Marc Marquez with a chance to strengthen his title position.
- Who
- Alex Marquez took pole ahead of Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta. Jorge Martin withdrew from the weekend.
- What
- Alex Marquez claimed pole for the Malaysian Grand Prix and sprint.
- When
- Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Sepang, Malaysia.
- Why
- Martin withdrew because of his wrist injury, sustained a week earlier at Phillip Island.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jorge Martin fractured his wrist at Phillip Island.
Martin completed three runs totalling eight laps in a 30-minute practice session.
Aprilia announced that Martin had withdrawn from the weekend.
Alex Marquez set a 1m56.493s lap in Q2 to take pole, 0.070 seconds ahead of Marc Marquez.
- Pole position
- Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati
- Pole lap
- 1m56.493s
- Gap to second
- 0.070s ahead of Marc Marquez
- Front row
- Alex Marquez, Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta
- Martin’s injury
- Fractured wrist sustained at Phillip Island
- Field size
- 20-bike MotoGP field
7 sources
Martin concedes 2026 MotoGP title is “already lost” after Malaysian GP withdrawal
Jorge Martin concedes 2026 MotoGP title is “already lost” after Malaysian GP withdrawal
Martin admits MotoGP title 'already lost' after Sepang withdrawal
Alex Marquez snatches Malaysia MotoGP pole position
What people are saying
His feeling was better, to be honest, compared with yesterday, but he was not able to force in the braking.
The plan is to come back to Spain as soon as possible and to push on the recovery and to do his best to recover the situation.