Moto GP Malaysia

Pedrosa Wins In Malaysia As Marquez Closes In On Title

Defending champion, Jorge Lorenzo, could only manage a third place finish after coming off second best in an early duel with Marquez. Valentino Rossi, qualified second but could not keep pace and finished fourth for the seventh time in 2013 and the fifth time in the last six races.

Britain's Cal Crutchlow enjoyed a race long scrap with Alvaro Bautista but ultimately had to give way to finish sixth, while his compatriot Bradley Smith coming home seventh.

The result leaves Marquez with a 43 point lead with three races left. It means the 20 year-old is favourite to claim his maiden MotoGP crown in his debut season in Australia next week.

Marquez had qualified on pole but found himself behind the Yamaha of Lorenzo and Pedrosa. With five laps gone Pedrosa took over at the front by disposing of Lorenzo.

“The conditions were extremely hot,” Pedrosa told broadcasters. “On the grid I was already super-warm and I knew riding would be a lot tougher.”

For the next six laps the champion and the rookie fought it out for second, with the pair colliding briefly before Marquez muscled past. The championship leader decided it was too much of a risk to close down Pedrosa and settled for second, extending his overall lead in the standings.

“It was quite hard,” Marquez said. “It was too much of a risk to try and catch Dani.”

If Marquez scores eight points more than Lorenzo in Phillip Island he will secure the title with only Japan and Valencia left.

Results

1. Dani Pedrosa

2. Marc Marquez

3. Jorge Lorenzo

4. Valentino Rossi

5. Alvaro Bautista

6. Cal Crutchlow

7. Bradley Smith

8. Andrea Dovizioso

9. Aleix Espargaro

10. Yonny Hernandez