Malaysian MotoGP 2026: Hakim Danish starts Moto3 from front row as Acosta wins Sepang sprint
Hakim Danish qualified third for his home Moto3 race at Sepang, while Pedro Acosta won the MotoGP sprint and Marc Marquez stretched his lead to 19 points.
Malaysian rider Hakim Danish gave the home crowd at Sepang plenty to cheer on Saturday (31 October), qualifying third for the Malaysian Moto3 Grand Prix. On the same day, Pedro Acosta won the MotoGP sprint, and Marc Marquez extended his championship lead to 19 points after title rival Jorge Martin withdrew injured. Sunday's racing is under way: the Moto3 race was scheduled for around midday Malaysia time, and the MotoGP Grand Prix starts at 3pm (MYT). Results were not available at the time of writing.
Hakim Danish makes Sepang history
Riding a KTM for the AEON Credit-MT Helmets-MSI team, the 19-year-old from Kuala Terengganu set a best lap of 2:10.52 in Q2. That was 0.133 seconds slower than pole-sitter Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar), who has already clinched the 2026 Moto3 world title. Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was second, 0.084 seconds off pole, giving the front row three KTMs.
According to Italian outlet Corsedimoto, Hakim is the first Malaysian to start from the front row at his home Grand Prix since Zulfahmi Khairuddin in 2012. He told reporters the session had not been easy and that he wanted to find more speed in sectors one and three before the race.
Hakim already has a Grand Prix win this season. He took his first Moto3 victory at Brno in the Czech Republic in June, ending a 10-year wait for a Malaysian Moto3 winner. David Almansa, Alvaro Carpe and Matteo Bertelle completed the top six on the grid, with Australia's Joel Kelso seventh.
Acosta wins the sprint after Alex Marquez crashes
In MotoGP, Alex Marquez (Gresini) took pole position with a lap of 1:56.493, just ahead of his brother Marc (1:56.563) and Acosta (1:56.577).
Alex then led the early laps of the 10-lap sprint but crashed out of the lead on lap three. Acosta (Red Bull KTM) took over and won in 20:04.098, finishing 0.578 seconds ahead of Marc Marquez. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) was third, 1.310 seconds back, with Ai Ogura fourth. Acosta also set the fastest lap, a 1:58.196.
The rest of the top 10 were Fabio Di Giannantonio, Francesco Bagnaia, Brad Binder, Diogo Moreira, Enea Bastianini and Johann Zarco.
Martin out, Marquez stretches his lead
The biggest news in the title race came away from the track. Jorge Martin, who fractured his right wrist in a crash in the Phillip Island sprint a week earlier, tried to race at Sepang. He was 21st in the second practice session and then withdrew from the rest of the weekend to continue his recovery.
That meant Marc Marquez's nine points for second place in the sprint all counted towards his lead. Before the weekend he led Martin by 10 points (365 to 355). After the sprint, the top five read:
- Marc Marquez 374
- Jorge Martin 355
- Marco Bezzecchi 322
- Pedro Acosta 275
- Ai Ogura 265
With 25 points available to the winner of the Grand Prix, Marquez can extend that gap significantly today while Martin sits out.
What to look for on Sunday
For Malaysian fans, the main focus is Hakim's attempt to convert his front-row start into a home podium. In MotoGP, Alex Marquez starts from pole again after his sprint crash, with Marc and Acosta alongside him. The Grand Prix starts at 3pm Malaysia time.
Key takeaways
- Hakim Danish qualified third for the Malaysian Moto3 GP, 0.133 seconds off pole, the first Malaysian on the home front row since 2012.
- Pedro Acosta won the MotoGP sprint ahead of Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi; pole-sitter Alex Marquez crashed out while leading.
- Jorge Martin withdrew from the weekend with a fractured right wrist.
- Marc Marquez now leads Martin 374-355, a gap of 19 points.
- The MotoGP race starts at 3pm MYT on Sunday, 1 November; it had not started when this was published.
FAQ
Where did Hakim Danish qualify for the Malaysian Moto3 GP? Third, with a 2:10.52, behind Maximo Quiles and Brian Uriarte.
Who won the Malaysian MotoGP sprint 2026? Pedro Acosta, 0.578 seconds ahead of Marc Marquez, with Marco Bezzecchi third.
Why is Jorge Martin not racing at Sepang? He withdrew to continue recovering from a right wrist fracture sustained in the Phillip Island sprint.
Sources: Malay Mail, MCNews, Grande Premio, Corsedimoto, MotoGP.com