Ahead of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix, most MotoGP riders have voiced strong criticism regarding the deteriorating asphalt at the Sepang International Circuit. During the opening two practice sessions on Friday, several competitors reported being hit by loose pieces of tarmac, with at least one rider sustaining minor bruises from the flying debris.
The circuit was scheduled to undergo a full resurfacing this year in time for the race, but the work was delayed due to unforeseen reasons. This delay has allowed riders to directly compare the current state of the track against the first pre-season test held in February, with images revealing significant disintegration in multiple areas. The condition of the circuit had already faced scrutiny during the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month, and it is believed that Formula 1 cars may have further aggravated the surface issues.
Honda rider Luca Marini spoke unprompted about the situation, describing almost the entire circuit as being in poor condition. He noted that while Turn 2 and Turn 14 were disasters last year, now every corner except Turns 7 and 8 is problematic. Marini emphasized the difficulty of the conditions, stating that riders must simply find a way to survive, particularly warning that the start could be hazardous for those positioned behind others due to the volume of stones kicked up during braking.
Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46, who finished fifth in the afternoon session, half-jokingly suggested that riders should wear chest protectors to guard against the rocks. He described the circuit as a "motocross track" now, noting that he was struck by numerous stones during a practice start behind another rider. Di Giannantonio expressed frustration over how bikes scratching the asphalt exacerbates the problem but acknowledged there is little they can do to change the situation before the race.
Reigning Malaysian GP winner Alex Marquez played down the severity of the deterioration compared to his expectations, noting that many Formula 1 drivers had spoken very negatively about the asphalt. While he felt the surface was similar to last year's conditions, he admitted that three or four specific points were on the limit of being unrideable and unsafe. Marquez concluded that there is no solution for this weekend and that riders must simply adapt.
Ducati's Marc Marquez largely echoed his brother's assessment, stating he did not feel a significant difference compared to the pre-season test. While acknowledging that it is time to resurface as mentioned last year, he stopped short of describing the current conditions as worse than the test or explicitly dangerous.
Sources: Autosport.