It was an emotional win for Jake Dixon as he won the Moto2 feature race at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The country holds a special place in the British rider’s heart and that of his late grandfather. With the #96 moving to the World Superbikes in 2026, he also gained some crucial points to move up in the world championship standings. David Alonso took back-to-back podium results, and Barry Baltus claimed his eighth career podium. But the big talking point of the weekend is that, after Manuel González’s DNF, Diogo Moreira is now the championship leader with two races remaining. Catch up on the rollercoaster ride of a weekend with our coverage below.
Slow Free Practice 1 with Dixon on Top
Before the first Moto2 session began, we had a bit of housekeeping to get through. Daniel Muñoz was still in Deniz Öncü’s spot for Red Bull KTM Ajo, and Harrison Voight was on the Boscoscuro machine of Unai Orradre. There were also the local wildcard entries of Muhammed Helmi Azman and Azroy Anuar. Both came out on the Petronas MIE Racing RW bikes as soon as the pit lane opened up.
The session was going smoothly before the incidents rolled in. Zonta van den Goorbergh kicked it off as he came down in Turn 9, a well-known crashing zone on the Sepang circuit. Jorge Navarro was the next one down at the same corner. Coming out of Turn 2 and into Turn 3, Joe Roberts had a hefty highside and landed hard on his back in the middle of the track before being stretchered away.
Both QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI riders, Iván Ortolá and Voight, had minor incidents. Despite the crashes, Jake Dixon expertly navigated his way around the challenging track to break the all-time lap record for the first time over the course of the weekend. The #96 finished at the top of the timesheet with a lap of 2:04.131.
González Proves a Point in Dramatic Practice
After a delay pushed the schedule back, riders were eager to get out while the conditions were favourable. Roberts sported a heavily strapped left wrist but took part in the session. Less than two minutes in, Anuar had a soft off at Turn 7 before his bike rolled away. Navarro and Ortolá had their second crash of the day, the #9 coming down at Turn 1 while the #4 lost it at Turn 2. The yellow flags came out a third time for Muñoz at Turn 4. The #17 did still hold onto a spot in Q2. Not so lucky was Darryn Binder. The South African crashed in the final corner, remounted and returned to the pit lane.
Daniel Holgado came up three-tenths of a second clear of Tony Arbolino. Alonso López became the tenth rider to come off during the session as he ran wide coming off the main straight. Arón Canet waved in apology to Yuki Kunii for almost colliding with him. Meanwhile, van den Goorbergh crashed for the second time, ending his Friday, and Ortolá nearly added a third crash to his tally at Turn 1. Somewhere in all this, González had crept to the top of the timeboard with a lap of 2:04.166.
Quiet FP2 Session Ends in a Late Crash
Several riders set record-breaking times around the Sepang circuit in Free Practice 2, but it was Dixon at the top with a lap of 2:03.633. David Alonso was the only one in the same ballpark, sitting in second place, a tenth of a second behind in time. Mario Suryo Aji came down at Turn 9 by the halfway point, as both Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP riders struggled to keep up with the pace set at the front. To be fair to the current championship leader, González, and the Australian GP winner, Senna Agius, the top five riders were within six-tenths of a second.
Albert Arenas and Canet were the following two riders in the 2:03s, coming up to the top three behind Dixon. Muñoz demoted Arenas to fourth. López crashed at the very end of the session, as Celestino Vietti and Ortolá exchanged heated words after they came together. The incident was investigated, with Ortolá handed a grid penalty for slow riding.
Sparks Fly in a Blockbuster Qualifying Session
Ayumu Sasaki was the first to put in a time, but was immediately knocked out of the top four. Adrián Huertas also showed strong pace, but tucked the front in the final corner. Roberts did well not to clean up the #99 as he slid from his bike and onto the gravel. Both Sync Speeders Team riders got a little too loose, with López’s machine chattering violently at Turn 15. In the final time attack shootout, however, it was Navarro, Ortolá, Huertas, and Roberts who advanced.
The promoted riders joined González, Dixon, Arenas, Barry Baltus, Holgado, Alonso, Canet, Álex Escrig, Arbolino, Diogo Moreira, Filip Salač, Muñoz, Izan Guevara, and Collin Veijer. The top two title contenders, Moreira and González, tussled together on their first flying laps, costing them time and crucial starting grid placements. This left Dixon to light the sectors red to take provisional pole for a brief moment before Baltus reclaimed it. But Holgado pulled a spectacular performance out of nowhere to take first by more than half a second.
Red Flag Start Creates Mad Dash to Finish
After a horrific incident during the Moto3 sighting lap earlier in the day, the Sunday schedule was rearranged, with Moto2 running after MotoGP. Guevara was further down the grid for a slow-riding penalty. Some early problems for Muñoz sent him to the pit lane at the start of the warm-up lap. But before the first lap was completed, Roberts had another nasty highside crash in Turn 15, holding his left wrist that was injured earlier in the weekend. Muñoz came down shortly later, along with Binder, both narrowly avoiding collisions with other riders. Red flags came out to make the track safe for marshals to collect Roberts’ bike, but López was stuck with an issue coming back to the pit lane.
The race distance was shortened in a quick start procedure, with Roberts and Binder not rejoining. But it was good news for Muñoz, who would not have to complete his double long-lap penalty due to the reduced number of laps. Holgado made another clean start, but it was a miserable one for championship contenders González, Canet, and Moreira. All three came under fire from other riders on the track as they defended their position and points. Dixon caught up to overtake Holgado, leaving the #27 behind to his Aspar teammate, Alonso. But it was Baltus who chased down the leading trio. The #7 had a close call, as did Alonso, while an incorrect red-flag graphic appeared twice.
Salač and Agius tumbled off the timing tower, both retiring from the race with technical issues. Baltus defended against González, who was hot on his rear tyre. But Moreira wasn’t far behind, taking sixth from Arenas. The swing for the championship lead went further in the #10 rider’s favour as González suddenly slid out at Turn 15. There was little else left for Dixon at the front but to take the win.