Malaysian Grand Prix: Alex Marquez dominates to claim third win of season

Spain’s Alex Marquez cruised to his third win of the season with victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old Gresini rider finished second in the sprint race on Saturday to clinch second place overall in the MotoGP World Championship behind the champion, his brother Marc Marquez.

And he went one better on Sunday, finishing 2.676 seconds clear of fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta.

It is the first time Alex Marquez has won outside of Spain this year, following success at the Spanish and Catalan Grands Prix.

Marquez opened up a healthy lead early on in the 20-lap race, overtaking Acosta before reeling in Italy’s Francesco Bagnaia.

Pole-sitter Bagnaia, who won Saturday’s sprint race, looked on course for third place before a bike issue forced him to retire on lap 18.

Honda’s Joan Mir took advantage and clinched the final podium spot at a hot and humid Sepang circuit.

World champion Marc Marquez, who won his seventh MotoGP title in Japan last month, missed the race because of a season-ending collarbone injury.

Earlier, the Moto3 race was delayed and shortened after a collision between newly crowned world champion Jose Antonio Rueda and 20-year-old Noah Dettwiler.

Both riders were airlifted to hospital but were conscious, according to the race medical director.

“My prayers and thoughts are with the Moto3 guys,” Marquez said. “I still have some stressed feelings in my stomach, so we need to just keep fingers crossed for them.”