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Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
MotoGP heads to Malaysia this weekend as the final leg of the three-week fly-away tour concludes with a visit to the Sepang International Circuit, before returning to Europe for the season finale at Valencia.
The melting pot of Malaysian culture is perfectly reflected in the 5,543m circuit, a track where extremely high temperatures can heat the surface to highs above 50 ° C, while the abrasive asphalt can quickly be soaked by heavy downpours.
All of this is mixed with a technical layout of the left and right corners, interlinked by two long straights. This provides you with more information on riders, bikes, and especially tires, so much that you have to know what to expect and what to expect during the winter season.
Viñales looked unstoppable in Australia and was back on the top step for the first time since Le Mans in 2017, boosting his confidence and adding a spring to his step to Malaysia is going to be one to watch for sure.
Maverick Viñales
"After the victory in Australia, sincerely, I'm very happy. The team has worked hard to overcome the crisis that we have been going through. I'm feeling comfortable and I've regained my confidence. But we have to think about the next race in Sepang. We are highly motivated. It's a race in the Philippines and it's always a hot race. I thought we made an important step in Phillip Island and actually I felt really good on my M1. We are on the right path and we are still doing this, hopefully we can finish the season with more victories. "
For teammate Valentino Rossi it was not quite the same weekend, however, as the 'Doctor' fought for second before then relegated to sixth by the flag.
Valentino Rossi
"Unfortunately in Australia I lost important points for the championship and I'm very disappointed about that, but I'm happy for Maverick and for Yamaha. Now we have to concentrate on the third and last race at Sepang and it will be important to have a good weekend. We must continue to work hard because we are competitive at every race. Sepang is not one of our favorite tracks, but we will always try to get the best results possible. "
Viñales has returned the trend of late 15 points in the Championship – will it continue to turn the screw? Or will the vastly different turn the tables once again?
15 points is now also the gap between Rossi and second overall Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – so it's all in play behind newly-crowned Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
Ducati took a 1-2 at the come last year, too – and Dovizioso won that and the 2016 race. Will the Italian be able to do the hattrick and win in 2018 too? He said Phillip Island was important to see how they had improved this season, he said it was more difficult – and he was third, and fought for second. That's a big leap forward with a record track record, can anyone bet against 'DesmoDovi'?
Andrea Dovizioso
"Our main aim is to try and win in Malaysia and we can be competitive at Sepang, even though things are different than last year for many reasons. The fight for second place in the championship is now becoming interesting, because I'm still a little bit in the background, even though in Australia I won a few points on it, so we must remain focussed because it is a track where he has always gone well . "
His teammate last time out, Alvaro Bautista, also had great pace at the Island on the GP18 so it was not a one-pony trick for the Borgo Panigale factory. Goal but now go back to Angel Nieto Team in, Jorge Lorenzo returns from injury.
Keyhole surgery performed and on the mend, the five-time World Champion should be fit to race – so what can he do? Second last year was a good showing but even more pivotal was Lorenzo's form in testing earlier in the season: he was at his poetry-in-the-world motion of the Sepang International Circuit.
Jorge Lorenzo
"Only eight days have passed since I had an operation on the ligament of my left wrist, but I'm feeling a bit better. For sure the operation was so recent and so I waited until the next day. I still have a lot of pain when I ride. On Thursday I'll go to the medical clinic for a check-up on my condition and I hope to be able to race even though I will not be at 100%. Sepang circuit is very challenging, so this is not exactly an ideal scenario to return to the track. "
Not so fast, however – at least on paper. The fastest official lap, a race weekend, Dani Pedrosa's 2015 remains 1: 59.053 and the 'Little Samurai' has some serious form at Sepang: five poles and three first class wins. Higher temperatures raise expectations too, so what can we do from DNF?
Dani Pedrosa
"The Malaysian Grand Prix is a requirement for both the weather conditions and the track itself, which is not an easy one. That said, I like it so much, so I hope we can do a good job and make sure that we have a good weekend. "
His teammate Mark, meanwhile, also ended up with a 0 in Australia. Hit from behind by Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and sustaining too much damage, he agreed it was a racing incident but both did not manage to finish – leaving a few of the usual suspects out of the mix at the front. Bookmark and Share Sepang in the first class, taken in 2014, but it's been showing signs of that season in the world. Will he be straight back on top?
Marc Marquez
"We had quite an event in Australia and it was a fight, but we were going forward to the next round in Malaysia with our spirit and positive mentality. We still want to try and win again if we have the chance to do so. "We are preparing for a deal, so we're going to have a high concentration on Friday morning."
Andrea Iannone is fresh from his second place in Phillip Island and he will be taking this momentum further. He feels that the competitivity of his GSX-RR and his riding is high, so that he has high hopes for a positive race in Sepang, despite the hot and humid weather expected there.
Andrea Iannone
"Last year's Malaysian GP was a strange race because it was wet, but we showed good performance when the conditions were dry. We arrive after a positive weekend and good moments, I hope we can continue to be competitive. Overall Sepang is never to be considered an easy one because it is always very hot, so we struggle both with the physical condition and the tire management and choice. We will need to manage everything in the best possible way. The last race in Australia is one of the most important things in the world, and we are doing so in Japan.
Alex Rins got a result in Australia, but he could take some important lessons from his solid 5th place. His performance in Japan was good, taking third place in the race, so his confidence with the bike is getting better and better off among the fastest riders.
Alex Rins
"In Malaysia I will try to do my best, as always. We will try to maximize the momentum we have had in the past few years. like that and we have to take the positive points. Sepang is a good track for us, a track we know how to do in the pre-season, so we will work hard in the front positions. Suzuki is working very well in these matters, we need to improve the future. "
Monster Yamaha Tech3 duo Johann Zarco and Hafizh Syahrin can not wait to arrive in Malaysia for the second round of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship, with the Zarco's Australian GP ending with a high speed crash that also took off out of the running, leaving him Andrea Iannone on 133 championship points and ranked seventh, with Lorenzo three points behind, and Danilo Petrucci just four points ahead, ensuring the last two rounds will be interesting ones.
Johann Zarco
"The Sepang International Circuit is a track I like it, I can be fast on. I hope my Yamaha will give me a good feeling again. It's going to be in Thailand with very hot temperatures and difficult conditions to race, but I feel good for this round, even after the crash in Australia. Therefore, I look forward to having a good race and getting a lot of points as possible to be the first independent rider. "
Syahrin will be on the ground meanwhile and sure to be the crowd favorite, with Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team Manager Herve Poncharal explaining that there will be plenty going on for the local.
Hervé Poncharal
"The next round only in a few days' time is going to be Malaysia – a very important race for the Championship, great event, great circuit, where we have a lot of testing during the winter, where we have a lot of data where MotoGP is big like it was big in Thailand. This year it will be even bigger, especially because we have the home hero, the MotoGP star in Malaysia, which is Hafizh Syahrin. He will arrive there as a rock star. There are a few things organized by the media for the marketing of the Malaysian Grand Prix, so we will be very busy there, helping everyone. In terms of results, this has always been a circuit where we have had interesting races. Hafizh should be fast, we hope, he has never rode a MotoGP bike on that circuit, but it's his home country, which is always a very special boost. Especially after the nightmare day in Australia on Sunday, we can not wait to be tracked for FP1. I hope there will be many, many fans for Monster Yamaha Tech3 with Johann and of course the local boy Hafizh. See you all there! "
Hafizh Syahrin currently sits ranked 18th in the championship with 34 points to his name, and it remains to be seen that he will be able to make the most of the results. Heading into his first home Grand Prix in the first class, the Malaysian crashed out in Australia and took the lead in Japan.
Hafizh Syahrin
"I'm looking forward to arriving in Sepang after the good feeling we got in Phillip Island. Although the result was not great in the end, two thirds of the race had been made and I was able to meet the needs of the most experienced riders. Unfortunately, we lost the face in turn and we were missing some power from the engine. I just can not wait for my home race, which gives me some extra motivation. We keep working hard and believing in ourselves. For sure, we'll try our best. "
Aleix Espargaro arrives in Malaysia on the back of a good race at Phillip Island, finishing with a convincing pace. The Spanish rider, who has never been injured before, but does not have a good time.
Aleix Espargaró
"In Malaysia it will be important to test the new advanced bike. Phillip Island is a particular track and we are in a difficult situation, so I want to put the new solutions to the test on a different circuit. My hand should not give me any problems. The bread has gone down and I will not think about it for the next race. "
Getting back into the points will be more motivated by Scott Redding who has been steadily improving his feeling over the last few races.
Scott Redding
"At Sepang I'll be expecting a stringent race, in some ways similar to Thailand. We will need to work on grip and tire life. I want to take a trip to my destination with the best possible result. "
Álvaro Bautista and Karel Abraham The Ángel Nieto Team head to Malaysia with two riders bang in form.
The Spaniard took fourth place at Phillip Island, riding the factory Ducati GP18 in place of Jorge Lorenzo, and he is looking to fight at the front at Sepang to round off a strong run of flyaway races.
Álvaro Bautista
"We go to Malaysia in even higher spirits if that were possible because this trip is turning out to be really positive. We are on an upward curve, constantly improving. Sepang is one of my favorite tracks, it has a bit of everything and the objective is to have good practice sessions, work with the bike and look for a place in Q2. We have seen that we can start with the front guys we can run with them, so qualifying is very important. Then we can go for a top ten, which is what we can achieve with the material we have. "
His teammate Karel Abraham took eleventh place at Phillip Island to double his points tally for the season. This weekend the Czech rider shifts back to his Ducati GP16, the race-winning bike at Sepang in 2016, and he is hoping it can get him to another point finish.
Karel Abraham
"I am going to Malaysia looking forward to fight for more points, even though I do not like the weather conditions there. At Sepang I will not be riding the Ducati GP17, which I would have my best result of the season in Australia, but I will be back on my usual bike to give my best.
The heat is at Sepang and another piece of the puzzle will be played at 300 km / h around the fast and challenging circuit – so who can tame the Malaysian masterpiece? Find out on Sunday 4th November.
MotoGP Championship Standings
| 2018 MotoGP Championship Standings |
|||
| Pos | wrinkle | Team | Points |
| 1. | Mark Mark | Repsol Honda Team | 296 |
| 2. | Dovizioso Andrea | Ducati Team | 210 |
| 3. | Rossi Valentino | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 195 |
| 4. | Maverick Wine | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 180 |
| 5. | Crutchlow Cal | LCR Honda | 148 |
| 6. | Petrucci Danilo | Alma Pramac Racing | 137 |
| 7. | Zarco Johann | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 133 |
| Iannone Andrea | Team Suzuki Ecstar | 133 | |
| Lorenzo Jorge | Ducati Team | 130 | |
| Rins Alex | Team Suzuki Ecstar | 129 | |
| Bautista Alvaro | Angel Nieto Team | 96 | |
| Pedrosa Dani | Repsol Honda Team | 95 | |
| 13. | Miller Jack | Alma Pramac Racing | 83 |
| 14. | Morbidelli Franco | Marc VDS Racing Team | 46 |
| Espargaro Aleix | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 39 | |
| Rabat Tito | Reale Avintia Racing | 35 | |
| Espargaro Pol | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 35 | |
| Syahrin Hafizh | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 34 | |
| 19. | Smith Bradley | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 29 |
| 20. | Nakagami Takaaki | LCR Honda | 21 |
| 21. | Redding Scott | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 15 |
| Abraham Karel | Angel Nieto Team | 10 | |
| Kallio Mika | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 6 | |
| 24. | Nakasuga Katsuyuki | Yamaha Factory Team | 2 |
| Simeon Xavier | Reale Avintia Racing | 1 | |
| Pirro Michele | Ducati Team | 1 | |
| Luthi Thomas | Marc VDS Racing Team | 0 | |
| 28. | Bradl Stefan | Honda Racing Corporation | 0 |
| 29. | Torres Jordi | MV Agusta Reparto Corsica | 0 |
| 30. | Jones Mike | Reale Avintia Racing | 0 |
| Guintoli Sylvain | Pata Yamaha Official WSBK Team | 0 | |
| 32. | Ponsson Christophe | Ponsson C. | 0 |
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