Jorge Martin is closing in on the MotoGP championship title after clinching victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix sprint, while his rival, Francesco Bagnaia, faced a setback with a crash.
Entering the weekend at Sepang with a 17-point lead over Bagnaia, Martin needed only consistent finishes in the remaining races to secure the title. However, his win in Saturday’s sprint race extended his lead to 29 points, putting him in prime position to claim the championship as early as Sunday.
This decisive opportunity comes amidst uncertainty in the MotoGP calendar, with no final round confirmed after Valencia was canceled due to severe flooding in the region.
If Martin clinches the championship on Sunday, it will be his first MotoGP title, making him the first independent team rider to win the premier class crown. It would also mark the first time since 2021 that the championship is settled before the season’s end, and he would become Spain’s first champion since Joan Mir’s victory in 2020.
Martin’s Path to Victory at the Malaysian GP:
- If Martin wins, Bagnaia needs to finish at least third to keep the title hopes alive.
- If Martin is second, Bagnaia must finish no higher than fifth.
- If Martin is third, Bagnaia must be ninth or lower.
- If Martin is fourth, Bagnaia must finish no better than 12th.
- If Martin is fifth, Bagnaia must place no higher than 14th.
- If Martin is sixth, Bagnaia must be 15th or lower.
- If Martin is seventh, Bagnaia cannot score any points.
- If Martin finishes eighth or lower, the title remains undecided.