Malaysian GP Set To Be Roaring Success Despite Absence Of Champ Marquez

SEPANG, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP), to be held at the Sepang International Circuit here from Oct 24-26, is set to be a roaring success despite the absence of seven-time world MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, who is injured.

SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif is optimistic about this based on two factors: the maiden appearance of talented youngster Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli in Moto3 and the fact that the race for second placing in world MotoGP is still wide open.

"The fight for second place is still open. So, we have Pecco (Francesco Bagnaia) up there with the likes of Marco Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez.

"So, I guess even without Marquez leading the way, the support from the spectators will still be spectacular,” he said at the ceremony to launch the AEON Credit SIC Racing MSI team, which Hakim Danish represents, here yesterday.

International media confirmed that Marquez will miss the Australian GP (Oct 17-19) and the Malaysian GP after sustaining a fracture and ligament damage on his right shoulder in an accident at the Indonesia GP on Oct 5.

The 32-year-old, who rides for Ducati Lenovo Team, sealed his seventh MotoGP title at the Japanese GP last month, having accumulated 545 points thus far.

With four more races to go, his younger brother, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP ace Alex Marquez, is in second place with 362 points, with his nearest challengers being third-placed Bagnaia (274 points), who is a two-time world MotoGP champion from the Ducati Lenovo Team, and Aprilia Racing's Bezzecchi (254 points).

Meanwhile, Hakim Danish will compete as a wildcard entrant in the Moto3 race for the AEON Credit SIC Racing MSI team.

Tickets for the 2025 Malaysian GP are still on sale at www.sepangcircuit.com.

-- BERNAMA