The Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The event is due to take place at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit until at least 2026.

History

The first Malaysian Grand Prix was held in 1991 at the Shah Alam Circuit as the final race of the season. Because of the long trip and high cost, many riders chose to not participate in this event. The 500cc race was won by John Kocinski. The event was notorious due to the tropical temperatures and a high degree of humidity, something which plagued the riders for four consecutive years – from 1992 to 1995 respectively.

In 1998, the race was moved from Shah Alam to the Johor Circuit. The reason for the change was because of the 1997 Asian financial crisis that hit Malaysia at this time. While the rich Sultan of Selangor protected the grand prix for years, the local government was no longer able to host the race at the venue. The circuit of Johor Bahru, close to the country of Singapore, was chosen and as a result, the circuit was overhauled: it was modernised and a new layer of asphalt was put on it. While there were pebbles on the track that kicked up and were a nuisance to the riders, the most shocking thing that happened during the weekend was when Lucio Cecchinello drove over the tail of a passing Cobra, which then looked up before getting hit at high speed by the leg of Gino Borsoi.

In 1999 the Sepang International Circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, had finished construction. The circuit was not only more modern and purpose-built compared to Johor, it also lay close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. As a result, the race for that season was moved to Sepang along with Formula One, who held its first race at the country in the same year. Since 1999, the Sepang circuit has hosted the Malaysian GP every year until 2020.

In 2006, the distance between the grid positions was increased following the 2006 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix where multiple riders crashed on the first corner. On Saturday afternoon, the circuit was hit by a hefty thunderstorm: a lot of rain fell and as a result, the qualifying practice of the MotoGP and second practice of the 250cc classes were cancelled. This caused a problem because there was no official starting times. The problem was solved by combining the three best times set by all riders on Friday practice.

In 2010, Valentino Rossi won his first race in Malaysia since his accident at the Italian round earlier that year, which saw him break his leg. In 2011, Marco Simoncelli died on the first lap of the race after a horror accident where two riders hit him in the head and lower body. The race was abandoned shortly after.

In 2020, the Malaysian round was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Official names and sponsors 1991: Lucky Strike Malaysia Grand Prix 1992: Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor) 1993: Malaysia Grand Prix (no official sponsor) 1994, 2001: Malaysian Grand Prix (no official sponsor) 1995–1996: Marlboro Grand Prix of Malaysia 1997–1999: Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix 2000, 2012: Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor) 2002: Gauloises Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2003–2006: Marlboro Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2007–2008: Polini Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2009–2011, 2013–2014: Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2015–2019: Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix 2022–present: Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia

Formerly used circuits

Winners

Multiple winners (riders)

# Wins Rider Wins Category Years won 7 Valentino Rossi MotoGP 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 500cc 2001 125cc 1997 5 Mick Doohan 500cc 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 Max Biaggi MotoGP 2002 250cc 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Dani Pedrosa MotoGP 2012, 2013, 2015 250cc 2004 125cc 2003 4 Casey Stoner MotoGP 2007, 2009 250cc 2005 125cc 2004 3 Luca Cadalora 500cc 1996 250cc 1991, 1992 Loris Capirossi MotoGP 2005 250cc 1999 125cc 1991 Marc Márquez MotoGP 2014, 2018 125cc 2010 Maverick Viñales MotoGP 2019 Moto2 2014 125cc 2011 Francesco Bagnaia MotoGP 2022, 2024 Moto3 2016 2 Noboru Ueda 125cc 1994, 1998 Kenny Roberts Jr. 500cc 1999, 2000 Álvaro Bautista 250cc 2008 125cc 2006 Gábor Talmácsi 125cc 2007, 2008 Hiroshi Aoyama 250cc 2007, 2009 Thomas Lüthi Moto2 2011 125cc 2005 Johann Zarco Moto2 2015, 2016 Miguel Oliveira Moto2 2017 Moto3 2015 Andrea Dovizioso MotoGP 2016, 2017

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

# Wins Manufacturer Wins Category Years won 34 Honda MotoGP 2003, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 500cc 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 250cc 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2009 Moto3 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2025 125cc 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005 19 Aprilia 250cc 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 125cc 1992, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 9 Yamaha MotoGP 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2019 500cc 1991, 1993 250cc 2000 Ducati MotoGP 2005, 2007, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 7 KTM Moto2 2017, 2019 250cc 2007 Moto3 2012, 2013, 2015 125cc 2004 Kalex Moto2 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024 2 Suzuki 500cc 1999, 2000 Derbi 125cc 2001, 2010 Suter Moto2 2010, 2011 Husqvarna Moto3 2022, 2023 Boscoscuro Moto2 2023, 2025

By year Year Track Moto3 Moto2 MotoGP ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 2025 Sepang Taiyo Furusato Honda Jake Dixon Boscoscuro Álex Márquez Ducati Report 2024 David Alonso CFMoto Celestino Vietti Kalex Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Report 2023 Collin Veijer Husqvarna Fermín Aldeguer Boscoscuro Enea Bastianini Ducati Report 2022 John McPhee Husqvarna Tony Arbolino Kalex Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Report Cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns 2019 Lorenzo Dalla Porta Honda Brad Binder KTM Maverick Viñales Yamaha Report 2018 Jorge Martín Honda Luca Marini Kalex Marc Márquez Honda Report 2017 Joan Mir Honda Miguel Oliveira KTM Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Report 2016 Francesco Bagnaia Mahindra Johann Zarco Kalex Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Report 2015 Miguel Oliveira KTM Johann Zarco Kalex Dani Pedrosa Honda Report 2014 Efrén Vázquez Honda Maverick Viñales Kalex Marc Márquez Honda Report 2013 Luis Salom KTM Esteve Rabat Kalex Dani Pedrosa Honda Report 2012 Sandro Cortese KTM Alex de Angelis FTR Dani Pedrosa Honda Report Year Track 125cc Moto2 MotoGP ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 2011 Sepang Maverick Viñales Aprilia Thomas Lüthi Suter Abandoned (Art. 1.25.2)The 2011 MotoGP race was cancelled because of a crash on the second lap that resulted in the death of Marco Simoncelli. Under Article 1.25.2 in the regulations, all motorcycles on the same lap as the leader must finish three complete laps for a race to be official. As only one lap had been completed, the race was abandoned. Report 2010 Marc Márquez Derbi Roberto Rolfo Suter Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report Year Track 125cc 250cc MotoGP ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 2009 Sepang Julián Simón Aprilia Hiroshi Aoyama Honda Casey Stoner Ducati Report 2008 Gábor Talmácsi Aprilia Álvaro Bautista Aprilia Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report 2007 Gábor Talmácsi Aprilia Hiroshi Aoyama KTM Casey Stoner Ducati Report 2006 Álvaro Bautista Aprilia Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report 2005 Thomas Lüthi Honda Casey Stoner Aprilia Loris Capirossi Ducati Report 2004 Casey Stoner KTM Daniel Pedrosa Honda Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report 2003 Daniel Pedrosa Honda Toni Elías Aprilia Valentino Rossi Honda Report 2002 Arnaud Vincent Aprilia Fonsi Nieto Aprilia Max Biaggi Yamaha Report Year Track 125cc 250cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 2001 Sepang Youichi Ui Derbi Daijiro Kato Honda Valentino Rossi Honda Report 2000 Roberto Locatelli Aprilia Shinya Nakano Yamaha Kenny Roberts Jr. Suzuki Report 1999 Masao Azuma Honda Loris Capirossi Honda Kenny Roberts Jr. Suzuki Report 1998 Johor Noboru Ueda Honda Tetsuya Harada Aprilia Mick Doohan Honda Report 1997 Shah Alam Valentino Rossi Aprilia Max Biaggi Honda Mick Doohan Honda Report 1996 Stefano Perugini Aprilia Max Biaggi Aprilia Luca Cadalora Honda Report 1995 Garry McCoy Honda Max Biaggi Aprilia Mick Doohan Honda Report 1994 Noboru Ueda Honda Max Biaggi Aprilia Mick Doohan Honda Report 1993 Dirk Raudies Honda Nobuatsu Aoki Honda Wayne Rainey Yamaha Report 1992 Alessandro Gramigni Aprilia Luca Cadalora Honda Mick Doohan Honda Report 1991 Loris Capirossi Honda Luca Cadalora Honda John Kocinski Yamaha Report

Notes

References