{"id":6794,"date":"2026-10-27T02:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T02:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/?p=6794"},"modified":"2026-10-27T03:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T03:10:12","slug":"5-fun-facts-ahead-of-2026-malaysian-grand-prix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/5-fun-facts-ahead-of-2026-malaysian-grand-prix\/","title":{"rendered":"5 fun facts ahead of 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>MotoGP returns to Sepang for the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix from October 30 to November 1, with fans set to fill the grandstands for one of Southeast Asia\u2019s biggest race weekends.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the event, which will be shown live on SPOTV NOW, here are five interesting things to know.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/De9oKeJn-kM\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/De9oKeJn-kM\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by SPOTV SEA (@spotvsea)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Ducati\u2019s stronghold<\/h2>\n<p>Sepang has become one of Ducati\u2019s most successful venues, with the Italian manufacturer having nine premier-class Grand Prix wins, more than any other manufacturer since the circuit joined the calendar in 1999.<\/p>\n<p>Their dominance has emerged more recently as they have won six of the eight Malaysian Grands Prix held since 2016 &#8211; the race was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic &#8211; through Andrea Dovizioso (2016 &amp; 2017), Francesco Bagnaia (2022 &amp; 2024), Enea Bastianini (2023) and Alex Marquez (2025).<\/p>\n<p>Their strength has extended beyond the race winners. Ducati occupied the top four positions in both 2023 and 2024, while they also won all Sepang Sprints thanks to Alex, Bagnaia and Jorge Martin.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rUnQFEOcw9w?si=kaW-2tK1xXgcedAe\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Vinales\u2019 three-class hat-trick<\/h2>\n<p>The last rider to deny Ducati a Malaysian Grand Prix victory was Maverick Vinales, whose 2019 success also completed a personal Sepang hat-trick.<\/p>\n<p>The Spaniard had already won there in 125cc in 2011 and Moto2 in 2014, making his Yamaha victory eight years after his first success a third win across three different categories. His intermediate-class victory came during his only Moto2 season, while his first was in the final year of the 125cc championship before Moto3 replaced it.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/E_N2RdJwGB4?si=1XuIWwtEAI4uZ5Ni\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Malaysia\u2019s wait for a home winner<\/h2>\n<p>While visiting riders have built successful records in Malaysia, the hosts are still waiting for a World Championship winner on home soil. The Malaysian Grand Prix began at Shah Alam in 1991, moved to Johor in 1998 and settled at Sepang the following year. Across those three venues, no Malaysian has won in any class.<\/p>\n<p>Zulfahmi Khairuddin came within touching distance in the 2012 Moto3 race. He started from pole and challenged Sandro Cortese to the finish, missing victory by just 0.028 seconds as the German secured the world title.<\/p>\n<p>Malaysia shares that wait with Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia, but all three began hosting Grands Prix later.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mSySqX8YQUk?si=EBBu-zVEoOXE5bo2\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>A stand of his own<\/h2>\n<p>Hakim Danish will attempt to change that home record with a dedicated section of supporters behind him. Sepang has introduced the Hakim Danish Tribune for his first Malaysian Grand Prix as a full-time Moto3 rider, with the section already sold out.<\/p>\n<p>His rookie season has shown why there is such interest. Hakim claimed his maiden Moto3 victory at Brno after starting 14th, becoming Malaysia\u2019s first Grand Prix winner since Khairul Idham Pawi at the Sachsenring in 2016.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DeOrJdYNzqs\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DeOrJdYNzqs\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (@sepangcircuit)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>A familiar detour to Qatar<\/h2>\n<p>Sepang usually comes near the end of MotoGP\u2019s Asian travels, but this year the championship will head to Qatar before returning to Europe. The Lusail round was moved from April to November because of the situation in the Middle East, placing it a week after Malaysia.<\/p>\n<p>It is an unusual sequence with a familiar precedent. Qatar also followed Malaysia in 2023, when circuit upgrades delayed the Lusail event until November. The same order appeared in 2005, but that turnaround was even shorter. Sepang raced on Sunday, September 25, before Qatar held its Grand Prix the following Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s Malaysia-Qatar double-header will be followed by Portugal and the Valencia finale.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tV6oz1XFll8?si=XSwVSj43-v1QJyuu\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MotoGP returns to Sepang for the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix from October 30 to November 1, with fans set to fill the grandstands for one of Southeast Asia\u2019s biggest race weekends. Ahead of the event, which will be shown live on SPOTV NOW, here are five interesting things to know. &nbsp; View this post on &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/5-fun-facts-ahead-of-2026-malaysian-grand-prix\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">5 fun facts ahead of 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[94,171],"class_list":["post-6794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","tag-motogp","tag-motorsports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6794"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6798,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6794\/revisions\/6798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}