Acosta Leads Rain-Hit Practice 2 at 2025 Malaysian MotoGP Despite Crashes

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Pedro Acosta of KTM Factory Racing dominated the second free practice session for the 2025 Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang, overcoming two crashes on Friday to set a fastest time of 1:57.559. He outpaced Johann Zarco of LCR Honda and Jack Miller of Pramac Yamaha.

The hour-long afternoon session faced a 35-minute delay due to an oil spill from a support category. Persistent rain threats culminated in a brief shower during the final 15 minutes, disrupting strategies but allowing late lap time improvements amid several crashes that heightened the session’s intensity.

Despite an early crash at Turn 9, Pedro Acosta displayed remarkable resilience. “I brushed off the crash and focused on rhythm,” he stated, as quoted from official sources. His leading time narrowly beat Zarco’s 1:57.578 by 0.019 seconds, with Miller trailing by 0.281 seconds in third, showcasing Yamaha’s strength in challenging conditions.

Fermin Aldeguer of BK8 Gresini Ducati, who led FP1, set the early pace with 1:58.279. As light rain began, riders switched to fresh soft tires, prompting Fabio Quartararo of Monster Yamaha to briefly take the lead with 1:58.113 before Acosta surged ahead in the closing moments.

The rain intensified midway but cleared late, enabling riders to push for better times. Tire strategy proved pivotal, with soft tires offering critical grip in the damp conditions.

Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo, the top factory Ducati rider, finished 12th, missing direct Q2 qualification. Similarly, Aprilia’s in-form Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing ended 15th, relegating both to Q1 alongside Aldeguer, Australian GP winner Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Aprilia, and Luca Marini of Honda HRC Castrol, who fell just 0.062 seconds short of the Q2 cutoff.

Other standout performances included Joan Mir of Honda HRC Castrol in fourth, followed by Quartararo in fifth. Fabio Di Giannantonio of Pertamina VR46 Ducati was the highest-placed Ducati rider in sixth, ahead of teammate Franco Morbidelli. Pol Espargaro, substituting for the injured Maverick Vinales at Tech3 KTM, took eighth, while Alex Marquez of Gresini Ducati secured ninth despite a late crash. Alex Rins of Monster Yamaha clinched the final Q2 spot despite crashing on his last lap.

Wildcard Augusto Fernandez of Yamaha Factory Racing suffered a late crash, finishing last with the V4 M1.

With a stacked Q1 featuring heavyweights like Bagnaia and Bezzecchi, Saturday’s qualifying promises fierce competition. Acosta’s ability to perform in wet conditions makes him a pole position favorite if rain stays at bay. Alex Marquez remains on track to secure second in the world championship, though his crashes add pressure.

Persistent weather threats demand precise tire and aero setups. Zarco’s strong showing with LCR Honda signals potential surprises in damp conditions. Sportrik’s in-depth analysis predicts Sunday’s grand prix will hinge on rain-adaptive strategies, with KTM and Yamaha holding an edge in variable weather.

For the latest MotoGP updates, visit SPORTRIK.