Alex Marquez finished second in Friday’s afternoon practice session at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, despite significant physical problems. After a shaky morning session with an uncertain bike setup, he found his rhythm and showed strong pace on the demanding circuit.

Physical condition worsens over back-to-back weekends

The Spanish rider said his physical condition is worsening as the back-to-back race weekends take their toll. “I didn’t feel good this morning, but things got better in the afternoon. We had to be patient because nothing was clicking, and we didn’t really know what was missing. The real breakthrough came once we switched to soft tyres, and then everything fell into place. I’m quite happy with that,” Marquez explained after practice.

However, the strain remains evident. “It’s true that on the second consecutive race weekend, the physical pain is harder to manage. I feel much worse here than I did in Australia. That was expected, although we always hope to improve. But it’s not happening, so I have to be patient. Tomorrow during free practice, I’m likely to feel even worse, so I just have to try to hold on,” he added.

Sepang asphalt still criticised

Beyond rider fitness, Sepang’s surface continues to draw criticism for its deteriorated asphalt, which complicates consistent lap times and rider confidence. Despite promises of a full resurfacing, the circuit still has patches of missing tarmac, notably in corners 2, 9, and 15.

“Last year, we complained a lot about the track condition. We were promised a complete repave this year, but nothing has been done. We hope it happens next year. It’s not as bad as I expected, especially compared to Formula 1 where the surface was breaking up badly,” Marquez noted.

Injections to manage persistent bursitis

Marquez also revealed that a persistent bursitis forces him to rely heavily on medical interventions to compete. “I’m quite worried, especially with Sunday approaching. I hoped to be in better shape, but this is the reality. I’ve already said it before: I’ve had to take injections in nearly every race this year—about 90%. I have no choice. The bursitis is persistent and sometimes worsens. When races come one after another, it gets even worse. We’ll see if I can hold on tomorrow and get injections for Sunday, but we still have to discuss that with the doctors,” he disclosed.

His resilience will be tested in the Malaysian Grand Prix as he tries to stay competitive despite his health problems and the demands of MotoGP’s schedule.