Controversy and crash send Bagnaia to Sepang MotoGP Q1

Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin set the pace in the third MotoGP practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, as Pecco Bagnaia failed to secure an automatic Q2 spot.

---

Key moments:

> Major setback for points leader

> Quartararo, Espargaro, Bastianini all secure Q2 spots

> Morbidelli penalised

---

Championship leader Bagnaia was on the outside looking in in terms of direct passage to the final qualifying segment after Friday, but made use of a dry track to not just break into that top 10 in the combined practice classification but smash the Friday benchmark just six minutes into the session.

Yet as Martin took over out front – with a lap within three tenths of Fabio Quartararo’s 2019 lap record – during the late-session qualifying attempts and Bagnaia wound up the pace to respond, the Italian instead crashed in Quartararo’s wheeltracks going through Turn 8, on a lap during which rain flags were out for some apparent drizzle.

Late drama for @PeccoBagnaia! 😮

He's crashed out of his fast lap while chasing @FabioQ20! 💥

He might miss out on a Q2 place if everyone improves! ⚠️#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/nUWPEZp6hV

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 22, 2022

The crash had come shortly after Bagnaia and Marc Marquez (Honda) had been baulked by a seemingly cruising Franco Morbidelli, Quartararo’s Yamaha team-mate.

Yikes! That was close! 😮#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/hZZLUY0nU3

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 22, 2022

A flurry of last-second improvements at the chequered flag relegated Bagnaia four places to 11th, consigning him to participation in the first qualifying segment. And one of those improvements came from none other than Morbidelli, who set an identical laptime to Bagnaia and was put ahead in the classification on the strength of his second-best effort.

Morbidelli was placed under investigation for his run-in with Bagnaia and Marquez and ultimately assessed a double long-lap penalty for Sunday’s race – though this naturally doesn’t affect the immediate fortunes of his fellow Valentino Rossi protege Bagnaia. He had also got in the way of team-mate Quartararo earlier in the session.

👀 @FabioQ20 isn't too happy with @FrankyMorbido12! #MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/Co2JyyJSoI

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 22, 2022

Out front, Martin finished two tenths clear of VR46 Ducati rookie Marco Bezzecchi, with Bezzecchi’s team-mate Luca Marini two places behind – the pair split by Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales.

Joan Mir led Suzuki’s charge in fifth, three places up on team-mate Alex Rins, with Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) and Quartararo also booking their places between them.

Aprilia’s title hopeful Aleix Espargaro struggled for much of the session in line with his woeful Friday, but hitched a ride with Martin during the latter’s FP3-topping lap and wound up ninth.

Espargaro’s brother Pol crashed his Honda twice during the session, while there were also falls for Cal Crutchlow (RNF Yamaha), Alex Marquez (LCR Honda) and rookie trio Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM), Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati).

Bagnaia, who needs to outscore Quartararo by 11 points this weekend while not dropping more than two relative to Aprilia rider Espargaro, will face a fairly daunting task of progressing into Q2 later today – with the likes of Marc Marquez, Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) and factory team-mate Jack Miller also taking part, and the possibility of rain looming.

Practice 3 Results