- The Repsol Honda have won the last four Malaysian Grands Prix (3 wins for Dani Pedrosa in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and one for Marquez in 2014).
- Marquez has always started from the front row of the MotoGP grid at Sepang.
- Hiroshi Aoyama will once again replace Dani Pedrosa, who is recovering from a collarbone fracture suffered in Japan.
Repsol Honda team take on seventeenth round of 2016 season at Sepang International Circuit, where Marc Marquez won in 2014.
After victory and clinching the title in Japan, and suffering a crash in Australia, Marc Marquez completes the run of three consecutive races in as many weekends with a trip to Malaysia. The Spaniard has twice triumphed at Sepang, in 125cc in 2010 and 2014 in MotoGP. He comes into the Malaysian GP after receiving a hero’s welcome at an event in Indonesia this past week. Standing in for the injured Dani Pedrosa, as he did in Japan, is Hiroshi Aoyama. Repsol Honda have been victorious at Sepang in each of the past four seasons.
Marc Marquez
“In Australia we tried to do a great race, but although we ultimately weren’t successful, we always look at the positives. In this case, I once again learned something and I’ll be more careful in similar situations in the future. When you feel good and are really enjoying the riding, the extra confidence you feel isn’t easy to control, but we’ll try. Now we are in Sepang, a track where we always test in February and therefore we know very well. Anyway, when we came here for the winter test, we were still struggling to find our direction with the bike setup. Moreover soon after that test, they completely resurfaced the track; therefore, we must wait and see how we will be able to manage this weekend. I’m very curious about the track, to see how much smoother the surface is now and how much faster it will allow us to lap.”
Hiroshi Aoyama
“I’m very glad to have the chance to ride for the Repsol Honda Team again, as in Japan it was a bit challenging to start Saturday morning from FP3, to adapt to the bike and to try and find my rhythm. I hope this time things will work out well and I can find a good feeling with the bike since the beginning. All of us wish for Dani coming back soon but until he is recovering I’ll do my best for Honda and for the Repsol Honda Team. Tuesday was my 35th birthday and I’m simply happy to be here in Malaysia, which is a country I particularly like and I look forward to enjoy racing at the Sepang Circuit”.
