Marquez stretches overall lead with second place finish in MotoGP sprint

SEPANG: MotoGP world championship leader Marc Marquez extended his lead after finishing the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix sprint race in second place behind compatriot Pedro Acosta on Saturday (Oct 31).

It was an eventful sprint race at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) as Acosta stormed to the front after pole-sitter Alex Marquez crashed on the third lap, ending his hopes of getting his first sprint race win this year.

Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi came in third to complete the podium.

Marquez, racing for Ducati Lenovo, is now 19 points ahead of closest competitor Jorge Martin of Aprilia, who withdrew from the race weekend after the morning practice session as he is still recovering from a broken wrist he suffered in Australia last week.

During the sprint race, the white flag was waved not long after the lights went out, signifying rain drops at the track.

After Alex Marquez crashed out, Japan's Ai Ogura moved into the lead before Acosta came charging from behind to take the front position.

With four laps left in the 10-lap sprint race, drizzle hit the track, with several riders already making the bike switch to be on wet tyres.

Jack Miller had come in earlier but was left frustrated after finding out his spare bike in the pits was not ready.

Fellow riders Joan Mir, Iker Lecuona, Maverick Vinales, and Franco Morbidelli also came in to swap their bikes for wet tyres but the downpour only arrived after the chequered flag was waved.