That’s him Malaysian Grand Prix, since 1999 has moved to the Sepang International Circuit, has appeared on the calendar at the end of the campaign since 2001 and led to 17 mathematically decided drivers’ world titles. And this Sunday in Moto2, Murcia’s Pedro Acosta can be added to the list, serving his second match-ball for his second world championship title in three years.
The score for Pedro was simple: he had to finish in the top-4 or lose the maximum thirteen points compared to Tony Arbolino, the second place finisher.
It is in Moto2 that the most titles have been distributed in Sepang, starting with the first in 2010 until Tony Eliasin 2014 Uncle Rabatin 2016 John Zarcoin 2017 Franco Morbidelliin 2018 Pecco Bagnaia and in 2019 Alex Marquez. Pedro Acosta will be the seventh out of a possible fourteen. Jorge Lorenzo, his second, was also crowned in 250cc in 2007 in addition to the unsuccessful Daijiro Katoh (2001) and Marco Simoncelli (2008).
But Sepang is a circuit closely associated with the celebrations of Valentino Rossi as three of his seven star category titles were held in Malaysia, his third and final MotoGP with Honda in 2003, the fifth MotoGP in 2005 and the seventh and final MotoGP in 2009 with Yamaha.
He also celebrated the first of his three titles in the star category in Sepang Jorge Lorenzo who also shared a night of celebration in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur with Toni Elías. Dani Pedrosa also chose his first in 125cc in 2003 or Jorge Martín in Moto3 in 2018.
Amazingly, the two riders vying for the 2023 MotoGP crown were declared 2018 champions on the same day in Sepang, Pecco Bagnaia of Moto2 and Jorge Martin from Moto3
The titles in Sepang
125cc
2003 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) to 2 GP’s
2004 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) in 2 GP’s
Moto3
2012 Sandro Cortese (Germany) 2 GP’s
2018 Jorge Martín (Spain) 1 GP
250cc
2001 Daijiro Katoh (Japan) 1 GP
2007 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) 1 GP
2008 Marco Simoncelli (Italy) 1 GP
Moto2
2010 Toni Elías (Spain) 3 GP’s
2014 Tito Rabat (Spain) 1 GP
2016 Johann Zarco (France) 1 GP
2017 Franco Morbidelli (Italy) 1 GP
2018 Pecco Bagnaia (Italy) 1 GP
2019 Alex Márquez (Spain) 1 GP
MotoGP
2003 Valentino Rossi (Italy) 2 GP’s
2005 Valentino Rossi (Italy) 4 GP’s
2009 Valentino Rossi (Italy) 1 GP
2010 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) 3 GP’s
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
