It does not feel like so long ago that Red Bull KTM Tech3 was in Malaysia for the traditional opening winter test of the season with a brand new exciting line up, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales, both ready to embark into a new adventure in orange. Yet, nine months have gone by, and the team is back at the Sepang International Circuit, with a slightly different line up though, as Pol Espargaro continues to put the work in while Viñales focuses on recovery. The Grand Prix of Malaysia will be the final leg of the fly aways, before MotoGP™ heads back to Europe for the two final rounds of 2025, in Portimao and Valencia.

Grand Prix of Malaysia

Both Enea Bastianini and Pol Espargaro will be heading to Malaysia after showing good form in Phillip Island last week. If the weekend had not started right, Enea sorted things out during the course of the weekend, after turning his P20 on the grid into a top 10 in the sprint, and a 9th place on the Sunday. Meanwhile, teammate Pol Espargaro, filling in for Maverick Viñales, impressed with a direct Q2 ticket in Practice to qualify in 8th, before scoring a point in the sprint, and finishing Australia on a high with a top 10 on Sunday. Both Red Bull KTM Tech3 riders will be eager to keep the momentum going at the Sepang International Circuit, a track they both know very well, as the majority of the championship, with Malaysia being a key testing destination. As we expect the KTM package to be competitive, both riders will have to face the tough conditions of Malaysia, hot temperature and high level of humidity, as they look to bring valuable points for the team before heading home.

As the Grand Prix of Malaysia marks the end of the overseas tour, you don’t want to miss this one! The action will start on Friday at 10:45 local time (UTC+8) with Free Practice 1, followed by Practice in the afternoon at 15:00, as both Enea Bastianini and Pol Espargaro will try to make their way to the top 10 for those precious direct Q2 tickets. The first highlights of the weekend will be on Saturday with qualifying kicking off at 10:50 LT, shortly after Free Practice 2. It will then be time for the Tissot Sprint, with lights going out at 15:00 local time for ten laps. Finally, the main show will be on Sunday with the MotoGP™ main race, as riders will line up on the grid for a start at 15:00 (UTC+8). Here we come, Malaysia!

ENEA BASTIANINI: "We are arriving in Malaysia, a track where we have reference from the pre-season with the KTM, which is already a positive. However, many things have changed since February, the bike is quite different, and the way I have adapted to the KTM and how I ride it, is different too. We are coming from a positive race in Australia, so I think that we can be competitive this week in Malaysia, and get closer to our rivals."

POL ESPARGARO: "Sepang is a track where I have spent a lot of time, done many laps, so I know the circuit very well. However, the temperatures are so high with a lot of humidity, which makes it very difficult physically. Anyway, after our good weekend in Australia, I am looking forward to a new full race weekend with the team, to try helping everyone and gather important information for the factory heading to the off season. Our package should work well in Malaysia, so let’s see if we can be competitive, and battle against Aprilia, since they have shown excellent form lately."

NICOLAS GOYON, Team Manager: "We are ready for the last round of the Asian tour with the Grand Prix of Malaysia at the very well known Sepang International Circuit, a test destination as we come every year during the pre-season. We are expecting an interesting weekend for Enea Bastianini, as it is a track which he enjoys, having won there back in 2023. It is going to be the first time that he races on a track where he already have data with the KTM, so we think it will be a big help for him, and he is is arriving from a solid race in Phillip Island, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going as we hope a comeback close to the top 5. Pol Espargaro has done an incredible job so far with us, scoring 3 top 10 results in 3 rounds, and if there would be one, we would give him the award of the fastest test rider this season! Sepang is not his favorite track, but he will approach this weekend with calm and no pressure, which has paid off this year for him, so let’s see what he is capable of achieving here."

ABOUT THE TRACK

Specifically built for speed and exciting racing, the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is one of the world’s best. The 2,300 acre complex which also houses a hotel, shopping centre, golf course and other sports facilities cost around £50m to construct and was built in just 14 months, holding its first Grand Prix in April 1999 and setting the standard for race circuits worldwide. With four slow corners following two long straights and ten medium to high-speed corners, the wide track is particularly favourable to overtaking manoeuvres and plenty of open throttle. One of the longest laps in MotoGP is made all the more gruelling for riders by intense heat and humidity. Sepang is located around 50km south of Kuala Lumpur city.

TRACK RECORDS

All Time Record: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'56.337 - 171.5  km/h
Best Race Lap: 2023 - A. Marquez  (SPA) - 1'58.979 - 167.7  km/h
Best Pole: : 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'56.337 - 171.5  km/h
Top Speed: 2015 - A. Iannone (ITA) - 339.6 km/h