Luca Marini delivered a standout performance at Sepang, putting Honda fastest in the final practice session for the 2025 Malaysian MotoGP. The Italian rider topped the timesheets with a blistering lap that edged Franco Morbidelli by just 0.007 seconds, while reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia completed an all-Italian top three in the humid Malaysian climate.

The final practice session was a closely fought affair from the outset. Marini, who had already shown impressive pace by leading FP1, continued his strong form to keep his team at the sharp end. His consistency across both sessions signals a major breakthrough for the team, who appear to be finding form at the tail end of the season.

Tyre Tests On The Abrasive Track

Behind the leading trio, Joan Mir secured fourth, narrowly ahead of rookie sensation Fermín Aldeguer and Fabio Quartararo, who rounded out the top six. Most riders opted to run soft tyres, front and rear to simulate race conditions on the abrasive Sepang surface. Aldeguer, however, began on the medium rear before switching to the soft compound late in the session, while Friday pace setter Pedro Acosta chose to remain on the medium throughout, prioritising long-run data over outright speed.

The competition in the midpack remained fierce, with several big names set to fight through Qualifying 1 after missing the automatic top ten cut on Friday. The narrow time margins seen across all three practice sessions suggest qualifying will be a tense and unpredictable showdown.

Historic Márquez One-Two In The Horizon

Elsewhere, attention turns to the championship picture, where Álex Márquez looks poised to seal a Márquez one-two in the riders’ standings. Holding a 97-point cushion over Bezzecchi with just 74 points remaining after this weekend, the rider appears comfortably on course to secure second overall behind his brother, marking a historical feat.

With track temperatures soaring and the field separated by mere tenths, Sepang’s qualifying battle promises to be one of the most competitive of the year. Honda’s resurgence through Marini adds an unexpected twist to the narrative, while Italy’s domination at the top hints at a fascinating race to come. As the lights go out for qualifying, all eyes will be on whether Marini can carry his momentum forward and deliver a landmark result for Honda.