Martin quickly asserted himself, topping morning practice with a speedy lap of 1:59.513. In the afternoon, he secured second place with 1:57.997, just 0.174s behind leader Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing.
Second in standings, Martin trails Bagnaia by 13 points, confident in improvement potential.
“I felt competitive since this morning; it’s a track that I enjoy a lot,” said Martin. “I felt super strong in the afternoon despite having to change strategy because we thought the rain was coming.”
Martin’s strategy worked. He’s confident, saying, ‘Riding in the 57s on Friday is impressive. Made mistakes today; more tomorrow.
Bagnaia, satisfied with his Desmosedici GP23 bike’s performance, stated, “It is the first Friday that I have not asked for anything (improvements) from my team for Saturday.”
Expressing contentment with braking, corner entry, and traction, Bagnaia noted, “I was missing a bit of speed in the first (turn) exit with the soft rear tire, but I think overall we made a positive step.”
Mooney VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi, on an older Ducati bike, showcased his prowess by securing a spot just behind Bagnaia in the afternoon practice with a time of 1:58.450s. However, Bezzecchi faces a significant 79-point gap behind Bagnaia and Martin in the title race.
As the MotoGP title race intensifies, riders gear up for a thrilling weekend at Sepang, each vying for a crucial advantage in this highly competitive season.