Acosta wins Malaysian GP sprint, Marc Marquez extends championship lead

Ducati rider Marc Marquez has declared his intention to aggressively pursue victory at the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix following a strong performance in Friday's practice session at the Sepang circuit. Despite his title rival Jorge Martin appearing to be struggling, Marquez expressed confidence in his own abilities, stating that he felt at one with his GP26 motorcycle from the very start of the session.

Marquez highlighted the good feeling he had on the medium rear tyre, which contributed to his overall positive experience during the practice. With three Ducatis currently in the top five positions, Marquez believes there is an opportunity for his team to capitalize on their strong performance and effectively close out the championship.

His brother Alex, who finished second in practice, currently trails by just 10 points. However, Marquez cautioned that the situation could still change, noting that Friday's performance may not always be indicative of the weekend's outcome. Factory Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi acknowledged Ducati's advantage at the track and the potential for his own package to improve, but acknowledged that there is still significant room for development.