More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing: 

Aprilia Racing heads to Sepang for the final GP of the extra-European tour.

The extra-European tour will wrap up with the Malaysian round at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit ahead of the return to Europe for the last two races of the 2025 season, with Marco Bezzecchi and Lorenzo Savadori ready to tackle the twentieth GP of the year.

Bezzecchi will be highly motivated as he arrives in Sepang and his goal will be to finish out the extra-European tour with another significant result. The Italian rider is fresh from an extraordinary weekend on Phillip Island, where he took victory in the sprint race and third place in the long race. These are results which catapulted him into third place in the overall rider standings with 282 points.

Completing the line-up will be Lorenzo Savadori, subbing for Jorge Martín who will miss the Sepang race as well as he recovers from the right collarbone injury he suffered in Motegi. The Italian rider will take advantage of the weekend to continue his work developing the RS-GP25 in a race setting.

The Petronas Sepang International Circuit, located about 50 km from Kuala Lumpur, is one of the historic FIM World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing rounds, on the calendar since 1999. At 5,540 metres long, it is the second longest track of the championship and has 15 turns – 10 right-handers and 5 left-handers. It is known for its demanding braking sections, particularly the first and the last, characterised by abrupt deceleration with a difference of more than 200 km/h between the initial and final speed.

Marco Bezzecchi: “I’m extremely happy to be returning to Sepang. It is a track where I’ve already ridden with my bike during the pre-season tests, so we have some references and I’m curious to see how it will go after all the work we’ve done this year. We did an outstanding job on Phillip Island, and the goal is to continue along the same lines in Malaysia. I can’t wait to get out on the track.”

Lorenzo Savadori: “Malaysia is rather a different track from Phillip Island, with conditions that are undoubtedly hotter and more demanding. We’ll continue working on developing the RS-GP25, following up with the experiments we began in Australia with the goal of improving the bike even more. I can’t wait to get this weekend started and, as always, I’ll be giving it my all.” 

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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:

Serious in Sepang – three to go in 2025 for Honda HRC Castrol.

The circle of 2025 is almost closed as Honda HRC Castrol return to where the year started: the Sepang International Circuit. Luca Marini and Joan Mir prepared and ready to demonstrate a year of incredible gains from the Honda RC213V.

On February 05, 2025, the season officially began with the first test of the year at the Sepang International Circuit, now 258 days later the very same venue will host the Malaysian Grand Prix. Already collecting almost six times the points total from 2024 as a team, Honda HRC Castrol’s resurgence has been a welcome reward for all involved in the project.

Luca Marini’s steady hand, only suffering one DNF due to a technical issue, has not only benefited development of the Honda but also sees the #10 13th in the championship standings and only eight points behind leading Honda Johann Zarco. The top three still remains the ultimate goal of Marini and his recent run of top five challenges certainly confirms it as a realistic target. Consistency and adaptability will be key during the Malaysian GP, a weekend always characterised by high temperature, heavy rain and changeable conditions.

Throughout 2025, Joan Mir has shown incredible raw speed with a number of hard charging rides through the pack. When qualifying further forward, the #36 has been able to battle for, and take, the podium and repeating this remains the target in the closing trio of races. Arriving to Sepang in 2025, Mir is also looking to break a run of DNFs at the track.

Temperatures creeping into the 30s are predicted for much of the weekend with the 20-lap Grand Prix of Malaysia scheduled to start at 15:00 Local Time on Sunday, October 26.

Luca Marini: “Ready for another race in what I am sure will be an interesting weekend. Sepang is a very particular track and having tested there, you always get a chance to compare what you’ve worked on through the year. It’s a circuit with a big variety of braking, corners and straights and I think this will suit us a little more than in Phillip Island. Three races to achieve our targets and we will keep working until the very end, we are close.”

Joan Mir: “This weekend we need to start well and be inside the top ten from Friday, like this we can have some more margin during the rest of the weekend. It’s clear that the bike has a lot of potential and I know that we can be there fighting with Luca and the other riders at the front. We’ve seen the last couple of races that these overseas ones are quite unpredictable, but I think our package has improved a lot to be quite consistent.”

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More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:

Augusto Fernández Returns to Action for Malaysian GP Wild-Card Entry with the Yamaha Racing MotoGP Test Team.

This weekend Augusto Fernández will spearhead the Yamaha Racing MotoGP Test Team as a wild-card rider at Round 20 of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, held at the Sepang International Circuit. His main aim for this weekend is to continue collecting data on the V4-powered prototype in a premier-class race-weekend setting.

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.”

• 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

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More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:

Miller and Oliveira Target Points as MotoGP Lands in Sepang for the Malaysian GP.

With the return to Europe approaching, the MotoGP World Championship leaves Australia behind and prepares for this weekend‘s round at the Sepang International Circuit, home of the Malaysian GP — the 20th race of the season. A weekend where Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira, and the entire Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team aim to fight for important points right from the opening sessions.

GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP

Jack Miller: “The home GP was an intense one — a real rollercoaster of emotions. Even though it didn‘t end the way we had all hoped, it was amazing to feel the love and support from so many fans who came from all over Australia to cheer for us. With that same energy, we‘re now focusing on the next challenge — one of the most technically complete circuits on the calendar, where we hope to showcase the strengths of the YZR-M1.”

Miguel Oliveira: “I am really motivated for the Malaysian GP, especially after the strong pace we showed in the second part of last race. We believe the bike setup we found in Australia can work well here too. The goal is to have a solid weekend, finding the right feeling with my Yamaha straight from the first session.”

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More from a press release issued by Lenovo Ducati: 

Round 20 in Malaysia for the Ducati Lenovo Team.

The Ducati Lenovo Team’s final oversea round of the 2025 season will be at the Sepang International Circuit, once again featuring the Bagnaia-Pirro duo. As announced, Marc Márquez, the current World Champion, is continuing his recovery from surgery and will not attend the event.

Sepang, a track just outside the city of Kuala Lumpur, has hosted regular races since 1999. Ducati has won here eight times: Loris Capirossi achieved the feat in 2005, followed by Stoner’s double win between 2007 and 2009, before a seven-year drought. Andrea Dovizioso brought the Desmosedici GP back to the top step of the podium in 2016 and 2017. The Borgo Panigale manufacturer’s roll of honor at this track concludes with the wins of the last three editions: Pecco Bagnaia won in 2022, then Enea Bastianini in 2023, and Pecco again last year.

It was anything but an easy weekend for Pecco, with a double crash and a huge amount of data to analyze. The entire Team is working meticulously to close the gap and get back to fighting for the top places on a challenging track, with very particular weather conditions but a layout that certainly is suitable to the power of the Desmosedici GP.

Michele, who, as a test rider, regularly visits Sepang in the early months of the year, is back racing on a decidedly more familiar track. The appointment for both riders is Friday, October 24th, at 10:45 a.m. local time, for the first free practice session.

Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd (274 points)
“I’m leaving behind another difficult weekend, with two crashes between the Sprint and the race. I’m not satisfied, but I know that, at least for Sunday’s race, I did everything I could to stay with the group and recover positions. It’s not an easy situation, but the whole Team and I are doing everything we can to fully understand the bike’s behavior and get back to being competitive. Furthermore, on this track, we have all the data from the early February test to be able to make a real comparison”.

Michele Pirro (#51 Ducati Lenovo Team)
“The first race weekend was challenging: Phillip Island is tough, both physically and in terms of riding. I hadn’t raced there since years. In Sepang, however, I feel more comfortable; I’ve already ridden here with this bike, and we definitely have more reference points. We’re continuing to work and gather information”.

2024 Results: 

• GP Podium: 1° Bagnaia (Ducati); 2° Martin (Ducati), 3° Bastianini (Ducati)
• Pole Position: Bagnaia (Ducati), 01:56.337
• Fastest Lap:  Bagnaia (Ducati), 01:59.118

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More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha: 

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP to Give Final Push in Malaysian Fly-Away-Rounds Wrap-Up.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins are determined to push to the limit at the Sepang International Circuit during this weekend’s Grand Prix of Malaysia, Round 20 of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team have travelled from Phillip Island, Australia, to Sepang, Malaysia, for Round 20 of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, the final fly-away round on the calendar.

Despite challenges in the Australian GP Race, Fabio Quartararo holds on to 9th place in the championship standings, and he will be on the attack again this weekend. He has raced at the Sepang circuit seven times (in the Moto3 class in 2016, in Moto2 in 2017 and 2018, and in MotoGP in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024) and never finished a full-length race outside the top 7. He came close to a podium in 2016, finishing fourth, and in 2018 and 2023, when he finished fifth. He had his first and only podium finish on Malaysian soil in 2022, when he secured third place despite riding with a hand injury sustained in a crash earlier that weekend.

Álex Rins thoroughly enjoyed battling in the Phillip Island Race and is feeling eager to step aboard his M1 again to continue the progress he and his crew have been making at the recent GPs. He arrives at the final overseas round holding 19th place in the rankings and fully motivated. The Spaniard is looking forward to the Malaysian GP, as Sepang historically is a good track for him. He secured second place there in 2013 and third place in 2014 in the Moto3 class, and in the premier class he rode to second place in 2018. Moreover, last year he scored his best 2024 full-length race result on Malaysian soil with an eighth place, and he is keen to repeat the feat this year.

The Sepang International Circuit staged its first Grand Prix in 1999 and has been on the MotoGP calendar ever since. The 5.5km track has a reputation for providing very exciting racing thanks to a mixture of slow and medium-to-high-speed corners (five left and ten right) and two long straights, the longest measuring 920m. The circuit is also one of the longest tracks of the MotoGP season, and the riders have to negotiate it in extremely hot and humid conditions, making this GP extra challenging.

The Grand Prix of Malaysia is held in the GMT+8 time zone. FP1 will take place on Friday from 10:45-11:30 local track time and Practice will be held from 15:00-16:00. On Saturday, FP2 will be held from 10:10-10:40, and the qualifying sessions from 10:50-11:30, followed by the 10-lap Sprint that starts at 15:00. On Sunday*, Warm Up is held from 10:40-10:50 and the 20-lap Race starts at 15:00.

*On Sunday, October 26th, daylight saving time will start in Europe. The clocks in Malaysia do not change, increasing the time difference between Malaysia and Europe by one hour for the Sunday.

However, before firing up their engines on Friday at the Sepang track, Quartararo and Rins took the opportunity to visit the Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM) headquarters, joined by Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP’s Miguel Oliveira as well as BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2’s Izan Guevara and Tony Arbolino. The five riders enjoyed a warm reception, giving them an extra boost for the Malaysian GP weekend.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI – Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha

“The previous round didn’t quite turn out as we had hoped. Fabio had another pole position and even set a new all-time lap record, but we need to learn from what happened during the Sprint and the Race and do better this time round. Álex, on the other hand, had a good Race and is growing in confidence. Historically, Sepang is usually a good track for us. Last year, Fabio and Álex also got decent results here. Moreover, we had a good winter test here at the start of this year during the off-season, which created high expectations, so we are keen to keep that trend going this weekend.”

Fabio Quartararo:“I took a couple of days of rest to recharge before coming to Malaysia. Now we’re here in Sepang for the last fly-away round, and let’s see what we can do. We did some testing here earlier in the year, but since then the bike has changed a lot. Hopefully we can get some good results and finish this overseas trip on a positive note. For sure, the Malaysian fans will be cheering us on, which is always really nice.”

Alex Rins: “The Race in Phillip Island felt amazing. Finishing P7 is a strong result, so I’m eager to see what we can do in Sepang. We’re making good steps forward, and that’s what matters most. We’ll keep this set-up for this weekend. Hopefully we get mostly dry track time so we can collect solid data, and then let’s see what’s possible.”