Alex Marquez wins Malaysian GP as brothers finish 1-2 in standings

Alex Marquez secured a commanding victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday at the Sepang International Circuit, capping a weekend in which he had already clinched second place in the 2025 MotoGP world championship. Marquez passed polesitter Francesco Bagnaia on the second lap, managed his tyres through the hot 20-lap race and crossed the line 2.676 seconds ahead of Pedro Acosta, with Joan Mir promoted to third after Bagnaia retired with a technical problem late in the race.

Marquez’s win was his third Grand Prix victory of the season and came a day after he sealed the runner-up spot in the sprint race, a result that completed a historic outcome for the Marquez family. Older brother Marc Marquez claimed the world title this season, making this the first time since the championship began in 1949 that two brothers have finished first and second in the final standings. Marc Marquez will not return before the season ends after suffering a collarbone injury in Indonesia; Ducati has fielded test rider Michele Pirro in his place at Sepang.

The race unfolded around tyre management, a recurring theme this weekend. Most riders elected to run the softer rear tyre used in Saturday’s...