While the day started in dry conditions at Sepang, it ended in the rain. The weather changed radically during the first Free Practice 1 session, and the fastest times were logically set early in the session. In terms of time, the Ducatis are back at the forefront. Fermín Aldeguer set the fastest time in Malaysia, with an attempt of 2:00.199, well off the lap record (01:56.337), while the skies were already threatening at the start of FP1.
On a circuit he particularly likes, having secured an exceptional pole position there last year, Pecco Bagnaia is back in form on his Ducati. The Italian finished second, just behind the rookie Gresini. FP1 was more complicated for Alex Marquez, who lost control of his Desmosedici at the start of the session.
Third place in the session went to Joan Mir, riding a Honda that was clearly in good form at Sepang. The Spaniard wasn’t the only one to put his RC213v at the forefront. His teammate, Luca Marini, finished 6th. The start of the weekend was more complicated for Johann Zarco, who finished only 14th at the end of the allotted time.
At KTM, Pedro Acosta also suffered a crash early in the session, at Turn 2. Only 10th before the rain, Pol Espargaro set the fastest time on an RC16. The Spaniard, replacing Maverick Viñales in Malaysia, took an impressive 4th place, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi, the best Aprilia.
The other Frenchman on the grid, fabio quartararo, placed his Yamaha in 8th position in Free Practice 1, ahead of his teammate in the brand, Jack Miller. The riders will return to the track at 09:00 a.m., to compete in the practice session of the Malaysian GP of MotoGP.
MotoGP – Malaysian GP
The EL1 ranking:
