The green flag dropped at the Sepang International Circuit as the final chapter of the 2023 Moto3™ Championship story got underway. It's now or never for Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), and the Spaniard got the perfect start to his PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia after his 2:12.065s saw him go half a second clear of the field in Practice 1. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was also keeping himself towards the top of the timesheets as the clock ticked away. The Turk moved the goalposts with three minutes remaining but Masia's stellar lap quickly followed as the Ajo rider was forced to settle for P2. It looked as if Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) was going to top the pile at one point, but an incredibly strong final sector from Masia saw the Italian 0.515s away in 3rd.
👊 @jaume_masia strikes first in Sepang!
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 10, 2023
He tops #Moto3 P1, nearly half a second clear of @DenizOncu53💪#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/W4R4eKRRm8
Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets - MSI) took well to the Sepang International Circuit, finishing the session in P4 with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounding out the top five. Rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) quickly learned his way around the Malaysian circuit as he took P6 ahead of Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP). Masia's title rival Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) could only manage P8 with the 3rd-placed rider in the standings David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) suffering from a late-session crash to finish in P9.
Practice 2 for Moto3™ begins at 13:15 local time (GMT +8), so make sure to tune in and keep up to date with all the action on motogp.com
| 1 | Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) | 2:12.065 |
| 2 | Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.435 |
| 3 | Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) | +0.515 |
| 4 | Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) | +0.890 |
| 5 | David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) | +0.893 |
| 6 | Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.977 |
| 7 | Joel Kelso (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) | +0.979 |
| 8 | Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +1.309 |
| 9 | David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) | +1.319 |
| 10 | Xavier Artigas (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) | +1.355 |
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