After steadily increasing his pace over the weekend, Marc Marquez scored a 1’59.066 in Free Practice 3 to secure a place in the second quarter while lap times continued to fall. From the pace shown earlier, it was clear that qualifying would be a hotly contested affair. Marquez started with a 1’59.178, returned to the pits for new tires, and started his second run. Unfortunately, a heavy high-side at the exit of Turn 1 at the beginning of his flight lap ended Marquez’s session and the world champion starts in 11th place. This is the first time since Mugello 2015 that Marquez has started outside the top ten.
Marquez was fortunate to have escaped injury and suffered bruises to his knees, elbows and pain in both shoulders from the impact, but was relieved of fractures or internal injuries. He will be judged again tomorrow morning.
On Saturday at the Gran Prix in Malaysia, Jorge Lorenzo improved the overall setting of his Honda RC213V. Lorenzo suffered his first crash since Assen and ran far in Turn 1 towards the end of Free Practice 4. It toppled after walking on the dirty part of the track. With a best time of 2’00.406 in RP3, Lorenzo visited the first quarter again and qualified as 18th. Unsatisfied with his starting position, Lorenzo is determined to march forward on Sunday and feels closer to the front than in Australia.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) finished the day as the top Honda rider on the grid with a strong fifth place.
The 20-lap Malaysian Grand Prix ends on Sunday, November 3rd at 3:00 p.m. local time.
The Repsol Honda Team would like to express its deep condolences to the friends and family of Indonesian Afridza Munandar, who passed away today while racing in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup at the Sepang International Circuit.