Table of Content
Ducati rider Marc Marquez heads into the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix with a 10-point advantage in the championship standings. His position at the top follows a strong sprint race victory at Phillip Island during the previous round.
Title Contenders and Sepang History
Jorge Martin sits as the closest challenger to Marquez in the standings, attempting to compete despite racing with a broken arm sustained during a high-speed crash in Australia. Both championship rivals hold relatively limited past success at the Sepang International Circuit, where Marquez last secured a victory back in 2018. Meanwhile, Aprilia has never achieved a premier class podium finish at the Malaysian venue.
Ducati machinery has dominated recent history at Sepang, claiming victory in the last four MotoGP races at the circuit. Alex Marquez won the event for Gresini in 2025, Francesco Bagnaia took two victories at the track, and Enea Bastianini won in 2023.
Grand Prix Schedule and Session Times
Track action in Malaysia and Singapore begins on Friday, October 30, 2026. Free Practice 1 runs from 10:45 to 11:30 local time, followed by Practice from 15:00 to 16:00 local time. Free Practice 2 takes place on Saturday, October 31, from 10:10 to 10:40 local time, with Qualifying following immediately from 10:50 to 11:30 local time. The Sprint is scheduled for 15:00 local time on Saturday, and the main Grand Prix race starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
For viewers in the UK and Portugal, Free Practice 1 is scheduled from 02:45 to 03:30 GMT on Friday, with Practice running from 07:00 to 08:00 GMT. Saturday features Free Practice 2 from 02:10 to 02:40 GMT, Qualifying from 02:50 to 03:30 GMT, and the Sprint at 07:00 GMT. The race begins at 07:00 GMT on Sunday.
European fans in the CET timezone can watch Free Practice 1 from 03:45 to 04:30 CET, and Practice from 08:00 to 09:00 CET on Friday. Saturday brings Free Practice 2 from 03:10 to 03:40 CET, Qualifying from 03:50 to 04:30 CET, and the Sprint at 08:00 CET, while the race starts at 08:00 CET on Sunday.
In the United States, Eastern Time viewers start with Free Practice 1 on Thursday, October 29, from 22:45 to 23:30 EDT, and Practice from 03:00 to 04:00 EDT. Saturday sessions include Free Practice 2 from 22:10 to 22:40 EDT, Qualifying from 22:50 to 23:30 EDT, and the Sprint at 03:00 EDT. Sunday’s race takes place at 02:00 ET, noting that daylight saving time ends on the east coast on Sunday at 2:00 AM as clocks move back an hour. Pacific Time viewers can catch Free Practice 1 from 19:45 to 19:40 PDT, Qualifying from 19:50 to 20:30 PDT, and other sessions adjusted locally.
Fans in Australia face session times starting with Free Practice 1 at 13:45 AEDT and Practice at 18:00 AEDT on Friday. Saturday includes Free Practice 2 at 13:10 AEDT, Qualifying at 13:50 AEDT, and the Sprint at 18:00 AEDT, with the race following at 18:00 AEDT on Sunday. In Japan, sessions run from 11:45 JST for FP1 and 16:00 JST for Practice on Friday, through to the race at 16:00 JST on Sunday. Indian Standard Time viewers can watch FP1 at 08:15 IST and Practice at 12:30 IST on Friday, leading into the Sprint at 12:30 IST on Saturday and the race at 12:30 IST on Sunday.
Broadcasting and Streaming Options
MotoGP provides its own dedicated on-demand streaming service for fans wanting to watch the action live or on catch-up. The MotoGP Video Pass offers live broadcasts of practice sessions, qualifying, and the Sprint, alongside highlights packages, for an annual subscription fee of 139.99 euros. Additionally, several local broadcasters carry live coverage and streams of the races on their official websites.
