MotoGP, Malaysia: Pecco Bagnaia immediately on a roll in Free Practice

Excellent ninth place for the returning Andrea Iannone

Free practice at Sepang, site of the Malaysian GP (penultimate round of the World Championship), saw a super Pecco Bagnaia on track. The reigning World Champion set the best time of the session, stopping the clock on 1'58"795. L'azzurro mounted soft tires, so that he immediately found the feeling for qualifying.

Different approach for Jorge Martin, who è instead focused on the race pace. The world leader (he has 17 points ahead of Pecco Bagnaia) finished with the sixth fastest time of the session. Excellent second time for Maverick Vinales (seven tenths behind Pecco Bagnaia), ahead of Marco Bezzecchi, Jack Miller and Pedro Acosta.

Also worth recording is Andrea Iannone's excellent performance. Back in MotoGP after a good five years, he è behaved well on the track, bringing home a more than significant ninth final time. The Abruzzese, riding the Ducati VR46 (replacing Fabio Di Giannantonio), showed that he has not lost his magic touch.

After Free Practice, interest is growing in the Bagnaia-Martin duel. Malaysia could be decisive for the fate of the World Championship. Pecco Bagnaia knows that he must push hard to try to recover as many points as possible to his rival who, for his part, must "manage" a lead of 17 points.