Following a slow start to the Malaysian GP weekend after some rain in the morning, World Champion Pecco Bagnaia led the way in MotoGP FP1.
Hindered by quite a few damp patches in the early stages of the session, the pace quickly ramped up with Bagnaia, seemingly in an attempt to put pressure onto championship leader Martin early on, opted for a very early run on fresh rubber.
The Italian led Maverick Vinales and Marco Bezzecchi into the Top 3. Vinales (and Aprilia as a whole) once again struggled to get on pace in the beginning. Vinales was the only Aprilia rider finishing inside the Top 17.
Jack Miller and Pedro Acosta completed the Top 5. The rookie was on target for another, even faster lap but suffered a late tumble in Sepang’s Turn 9. Acosta was the only faller of the session.
Biggest surprise of the session is Andrea Iannone. The Italian, replacing Fabio Di Giannantonio for the last two rounds of the season, impressed in his first MotoGP session in five years finishing FP1 ninth-fastest.
