2' min
The MotoGP World Championship is heading into its final stretch, with the penultimate showdown between Martin and Bagnaia taking place at Sepang. Who will be crowned MotoGP World Champion? The Spanish rider, currently leading with a 17-point advantage over the Italian, is chasing his first title in the premier class. Meanwhile, Ducati’s Piedmont native, Bagnaia, is dreaming of a third consecutive championship. Martin secured double second-place finishes last weekend in Thailand, in both the Sprint and Main Race, while Bagnaia managed to claw back a few points with a Sunday race win.
With only two Grands Prix remaining—Malaysia and Valencia—74 points are still up for grabs. However, if Martin gains 20 more points than Bagnaia between the Sprint and Main Race, he could seal the championship one round early. Uncertainty also surrounds the final race, as the Federation weighs options following the devastating floods that recently hit the Valencian Community, threatening the last race of the season. The Sepang circuit historically favors Bagnaia, who won here in 2022 and in Moto3 back in 2016, while Martin’s only victory here was in Moto3 in 2018.
Bagnaia knows he’ll need to take some risks and push his limits. “At this point, I have to take more risks; he has a 17-point lead and could even just finish second every time. The best way to attack is to open the throttle, so I’ll aim to win both races while trying to avoid mistakes,” the two-time World Champion stated during the pre-race press conference in Sepang.
Martin, on the other hand, will need to focus on staying calm and cautious, as he admitted he’s made enough errors already. “Now’s the time to avoid mistakes; we’ve already made enough. I’ve reached this point by giving 100%, and I’ll keep doing that here in Sepang, but with a smarter approach,” said the Spanish rider.
