Why 'motocross' Sepang wasn't fixed - and is bruising riders

Multiple MotoGP riders have expressed concerns about the state of the Sepang International Circuit’s asphalt ahead of this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

A track already in need of resurfacing was further damaged by this month’s replacement Formula 1 race - running as the 'Bahrain Grand Prix' in lieu of a race at the country's actual Sakhir track - to the point where it has now, according to some racers, become borderline dangerous to ride on.

Last resurfaced 10 years ago, the track was due to receive new asphalt ahead of this year’s MotoGP event, but delays to logistics caused by the geopolitical situation in the Middle East saw this work pushed back.

And the high downforce generated by F1 cars has caused considerable further degradation of the track at a number of key corners.

The unexpected arrival of F1 also saw remedial work planing the straights, in an attempt to remove bumps - which appears to have exacerbated the situation in other regards. The track is now shedding stones due to the forces generated by the bikes as they accelerate.

MotoGP had a similar issue at the second round of the 2026 season at the inaugural Brazilian Grand Prix in Goiania, where the main race on Sunday was cut in distance at the last minute as the track started to crumble during the Moto2 and Moto3 races.

And, speaking to riders after the opening day of practice on Friday, a number were less than happy that their request to resurface after testing hadn’t been accomplished given the state of the asphalt right now.

“The asphalt is, pardon my French, f**ked,” Jack Miller told the media.

“We told them it was f**ked already at the test. Turn 1 has no stones in it [within the surface], like absolutely none. Turn 4 has none. All the stones are coming out of the asphalt.

“This track cops a lot of abuse, and we asked for it [the resurfacing], but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time between then and now, or whatever, and I think with F1 coming it didn't help the situation.

"It’s definitely something that needs to be improved on before they come testing at the beginning of next year.”

Others went into even more detail about the issue of the stones coming loose, with a number of riders sporting fresh bruises from being hit.

“It’s a motocross track now,” VR46 Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio said. “We need to wear a chest protector. There are a lot of rocks coming from the asphalt. I got a lot of rocks when I did the practice start behind another guy.”

Honda rider Luca Marini said he had to abort a run because a loose stone caused radiator damage to his RC213V bike.

“It's never good when they do these kinds of things on the asphalt,” Di Giannantonio added of the start-finish planing.

“For us with the bikes it’s never good, but I don’t know what we can do about it from now until tomorrow.”

“When I rode alone, it looked normal,” LCR Honda rider Johann Zarco added, “but when I’m following someone I received a piece of Tarmac on the body, and I think tomorrow for the [sprint] race, for the one who is not leading, for 19 riders [behind], it will be very tough.

“We will receive many hits on the arms and the neck. We are used to it, but it is a pity.”