Podium
Pedro Acosta claimed victory for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in the Malaysian MotoGP Sprint Race at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Selangor, on 31 October 2026. The Spaniard crossed the line in a time of 20:04.098 to take the honours at round 19 of the 2026 season. Marc Márquez of the Ducati Lenovo Team finished second, 0.578 seconds adrift, with Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing completing the podium a further 0.732 seconds behind in third.
The ten-lap contest was shaped by unpredictable weather and sudden drama. Álex Márquez, who had started from pole position and led the early running, crashed out on lap three, removing himself from contention and handing the lead to Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura. Rain then began to fall, prompting the white flag to be waved and throwing strategy wide open, with some riders electing to pit and swap machines. Acosta, however, managed the tricky, damp conditions with greater composure than his rivals, ultimately overcoming Ogura to secure the win. Marc Márquez mounted a late challenge but was unable to close the gap sufficiently, finishing 0.578 seconds behind, while Bezzecchi held firm for Aprilia Racing to take third. Francesco Bagnaia, Márquez’s Ducati Lenovo Team team-mate, could manage only sixth, crossing the line 8.330 seconds off the pace.
Ai Ogura delivered a notable performance for Trackhouse Racing, ultimately classified fourth at 1.793 seconds from the winner after leading a portion of the race following the early incident. Fabio Di Giannantonio of Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rounded out the top five, finishing 5.053 seconds behind Acosta. Further back, Diogo Moreira brought his LCR Honda Idemitsu Castrol machine home in eighth, separated from the winner by 9.001 seconds, with team-mate Johann Zarco tenth at 9.545 seconds, the pair providing a solid return for the Honda-affiliated outfit.
The result represents a significant moment for Acosta and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, with the victory underlining the team’s capacity to perform under difficult and changeable conditions. Brad Binder also contributed to the manufacturer’s cause, finishing seventh to ensure both factory KTM riders featured inside the top ten. For Acosta in particular, a sprint victory on a weekend marked by rain and strategic complexity will serve as a considerable boost to his and the team’s championship ambitions as the 2026 season enters its closing stages. Attention now turns to the next round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Race highlights
Race classification — top 10
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 20:04.098 |
| 2 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | +0.578 |
| 3 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | +1.310 |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Racing | +1.793 |
| 5 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | +5.053 |
| 6 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | +8.330 |
| 7 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | +8.484 |
| 8 | Diogo Moreira | LCR Honda Idemitsu Castrol | +9.001 |
| 9 | Enea Bastianini | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +9.101 |
| 10 | Johann Zarco | LCR Honda Idemitsu Castrol | +9.545 |
Race data via TheSportsDB. Classification, timings, podium positions and event metadata sourced live from the official feed at the time of publication.