Martin on brink of winning MotoGP title after Malaysia sprint win
Jorge Martin won the Moto3 championship in 2018
- Published
Jorge Martin moved to the verge of winning his first MotoGP championship with a sprint victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Spanish Pramac Ducati rider, who was runner-up to Francesco Bagnaia last year, now leads the Italian by 29 points and can win the title on Sunday after Bagnaia crashed out.
There are 25 points awarded for a win, so if Martin outscores Bagnaia by nine points on Sunday he will be champion with a round to spare.
The final race of the season was due to be held in Valencia on 15 November but has been cancelled because of flooding in the area.
There will be a replacement final race - at a yet-to-be decided location.
Six-time champion Marc Marquez continued his return to form by finishing second on Saturday, while Bagnaia's team-mate Enea Bastianini rounded out the podium.
Martin surged past polesitter Bagnaia to lead into the first turn and Bagnaia, who set a lap record to take pole earlier on Saturday, lost the front end on the third lap and crashed out.
The 2022 and 2023 champion held his head in his hands as his shot at winning a third championship all but slipped away.
MotoGP standings
Jorge Martin (Spa/Pramac Racing) 465 points
Francesco Bagnaia (Ita/Ducati) 436
Marc Marquez (Spa/Gresini Racing) 365
Enea Bastianini (Ita/Ducati) 352
Brad Binder (SA/KTM) 206