Pedro Acosta once again proved why he’s the name on everyone’s lips in MotoGP, storming to the top of the timesheets during a dramatic Friday Practice session at the Malaysian Grand Prix, clocking 1:57.559 to edge out Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) by just 0.019 seconds. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha) completed the top three in an unpredictable session that saw several big names tumble — both literally and figuratively.
The drama of the day came with a twist of irony: despite his early crash at Turn 10, Acosta bounced back to lead the pack just as rain clouds gathered over Sepang International Circuit. His resilience under pressure ensured Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ended the day on top, sending a strong message heading into qualifying.
But for others, it was a day of frustration. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) — the last three Grand Prix winners — all failed to make the top 10, forcing them into Q1. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) joins them in the dreaded early qualifying round, in a surprising shake-up for the championship contenders.
The session began with Acosta on the back foot after an early fall, leaving him without a registered lap for the first 20 minutes. Meanwhile, his compatriot Aldeguer briefly led the way before the rain flags appeared, sending the field into disarray.
Amid shifting conditions, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) suffered his second crash of the day, yet still clawed his way into Q2 with a clutch lap in the dying minutes. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) also impressed, briefly going fastest before Acosta reclaimed the top spot with his late flying lap.
The final 10 minutes turned into a thriller. As light rain hit parts of the track, riders scrambled for one last push. Marquez surged to P3, pushing Bagnaia out of the top 10. Acosta’s blistering final effort secured P1, while Zarco and Miller jumped into the top three with last-gasp laps.
Bagnaia, chasing consistency after his earlier wins, narrowly missed Q2 by just 0.048 seconds, while Aldeguer and Bezzecchi couldn’t find enough time to climb back into contention.
Behind the leading trio, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) took an impressive P4, showing signs of resurgence, with Quartararo rounding out the top five. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli both improved late, while Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3) continued to impress by sealing P8 and a direct Q2 berth. Alex Marquez and Alex Rins completed the top 10, the latter surviving a late crash to hold position.
With major title contenders like Bagnaia, Aldeguer, Fernandez, and Bezzecchi all facing the pressure cooker of Q1, Saturday morning’s qualifying is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable of the season.
Acosta, the fearless rookie turned frontrunner, will now aim to convert his commanding pace into pole position — but if Friday’s chaos is anything to go by, MotoGP’s unpredictability might just have more surprises in store before the Tissot Sprint gets underway.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
