The battle between Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) at Sepang was out of this world. For three laps, the tension and excitement could not have been more palpable. Sport at its purest. And now, after Pecco’s victory, a title-deciding final round will take place in Barcelona when we compete for Valencia.

Below are some of the key talking points to emerge from Sepang’s ban action, as we prepare for the final weekend of the season where Martin holds a 24-point lead over Bagnaia with 37 remaining in the standings.

“We tried to give everyone a slipstream”

With taking points from Martin a priority in Malaysia, Bagnaia – while talking about the phenomenal battle – admitted he gave other riders slipstream opportunities over the weekend to try and get some rivals between himself and the championship leader. In the end it didn’t work. And that’s something #1 hopes can change in Barcelona.

“It was great because we fought quite aggressively but cleanly because we never touched. I knew that after three or four laps, if I was in front and pushing, I could open this gap, not only for the pace but also for the temperature of the tires. So I could set my pace and open the gap. After that I just hoped that Enea and Marc would close to Jorge. But we know that right now in the championship it gives us the potential to open a gap. Even if we slowed down a bit, we finished seven seconds ahead of third.

“It’s something that we need to improve for the next one in Barcelona. We tried to slipstream everyone over the weekend to get someone in the middle, and I have to win both races. So let’s see. Anyway, I’m happy for today. It’s a shame because yesterday I touched today and I didn’t crash. But we’re happy for what we did. Let’s move on to the next one fully focused on try to win both races.”

“Anything can happen in Barcelona”

Speaking of the mountain he has to climb at the end of the season, Bagnaia is well aware of the difficult task that awaits him in Barcelona. But it is by no means impossible.

“Mathematically still possible. We know it’s quite difficult. In Barcelona anything can happen. I crashed in the sprint when I was leading by a second. Tried to avoid some mistakes and I crashed the same thing. So it’s going to be tricky. The conditions will be tougher compared with June because it’s going to be cold. Two corners in Barcelona is quite tricky, it’s corner two and corner five. It’s important to try to be so competitive but I need Enea as well.”

“It was too risky to continue attacking”

After a spellbinding three laps, Bagnaia was able to open a gap to Martin for the rest of the race as the latter settled for 20 decisive points on Sunday. Martin shared his thoughts on what was unfolding in Malaysia.

“I liked it a lot. Thanks to Pecco, because of his level I improve my level every day. Every day we are stronger and stronger. I don’t think we’ve ever had a fight like that in our career. Sure, we were always close but we never had a fight with 11 overtaking, they told me, in three laps. I felt I was strong enough to do it. I think putting the intermediate front was the best choice for me. Maybe the first laps were a bit of a gamble. It was really hard to stop, but at least I’m very happy that I was able to attack Pecco.

“It was really difficult to overtake someone like him that he brakes so, so hard and he can stop the bike really well. But I was able to do it. I think if I could have taken the first position for a whole lap, everything would have changed a little, but at the end he had a great pace. For me it was too risky to keep attacking. So I just controlled the gap to the rider behind and tried to make it to the end.”

“Nothing’s over until it’s over”

A great position to be in with a sprint and a race to go? Absolutely. But Martin does not allow himself to be carried away before the final.

“For me, the confidence doesn’t change much when I come to this race or when I come to the next race. I am sure of my work, of how I got here. I just think it’s a privilege to be at this point. Fighting a champion like Pecco is crazy. Sure, I’m sure. I’m glad we took another seven points from this race. I feel a little closer to the final goal, but nothing is over until it’s over so we have to be super focused. Sure, I believe to the end.”

“They were just faster than me”

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) had the best seats in the house for the Pecco vs Martin battle, but the Spaniard never managed to get among them. Why? The reason was quite simple.

“They were just faster than me. Sometimes you’re there behind somebody and you say from the TV, ‘Why don’t you overtake? Why don’t you join the battle?’. But today, even though I’m trying to be in it the battle, they were faster than me and were not possible in terms of speed of riding.

“Slowing down the race by 10 seconds is impossible”

After the race, Marc Marquez was asked about the potential tactics Bagnaia could have played to try and allow teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) – and others – to join the fray to give Martin some defending to do. But such was the superior pace of Bagnaia and Martin in Malaysia, it was never going to be feasible for the #1.

“The problem is that the difference between Pecco, Martin and the others was huge. I mean, if you see that Bastianini finished 10 seconds after Pecco. So slow down the race 2-3 seconds OK. But slowing down the race by 10 seconds is impossible.”

“Oh, damn, perfect!”

Thankfully, Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Brad Binder and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) were able to walk away from the huge Turn 2 incident that brought out the red flags. Speaking to the media afterwards, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) said he was worried about Miller after the HRC star drove over the Australian’s leg while trying to avoid everything. After a post-race visit to Miller’s garage, Mir was more than relieved to get the go-ahead from the #43.

“Honestly, I was very worried, because in the first start I made a superb start. I passed a lot of people. In the first corner I went outside, I was behind… around the top 10, so if I could make the second corner I could be in a very good position. But then I found the crash with Fabio, with Miller and with Brad. And I ran Jack over, and then when I saw the ambulance, everything. I was very worried because I didn’t know how he was because I ran over his leg. And I was worried about him, but I went to his box, and he said, “No, I’m fine! I’m fine!”… and your leg? “Yeah, I’ve got a bruise here,” oh, damn, perfect! But I was worried.”

19 down, one more to go. In solidarity with Valencia, we’re racing in Barcelona to see who will be crowned the 2024 MotoGP World Champion.