Pedrosa and Lorenzo the ones to beat in Sepang

Both did not race here last year due to injuries but Spaniards Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are back and will be the ones to beat in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix this weekend.

With three races remaining, the battle for the MotoGP world title is now a two-horse race between Pedrosa and Lorenzo and Sepang could, mathematically at least, crown a new champion if lady luck smiles on one of them.

Championship leader Lorenzo will start with a 28-point advantage after finishing second at the Japan Grand Prix in Motegi last Sunday. Lorenzo missed the Sepang race last year after undergoing surgery for a left hand injury suffered in the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island the week before.

With 25 points for a win and a total of 75 to fight for, Lorenzo could pick up a second world title if he wins on Sunday and his rival finishes no higher than 13th. Despite the pressure of winning the world title for Yamaha, Lorenzo said he is calmer compared to his first successful attempt in 2010.

“This year is quite different. Then, I was still chasing my first title so I was a little bit more nervous and had to take more risks. Now that I have already won a title, at least I can be happy knowing that I have won it before,” said Lorenzo. “Come to think about it, not many riders have a title ... so I can take things a bit more calmly.

“Coming back here is always special as I have great memories after clinching my second 250cc title here in 2007 and, of course, my first MotoGP championship. So, I hope to take back another good memory from Malaysia this year.” He admitted that Pedrosa has proved stronger in the last couple of races but remains confident about matching the pace set by his arch-rival.

“Since Laguna Seca, Dani and his bike have proved really strong and for us it’s harder to beat him on a regular basis like in the early stages of the season. “I tried but could not win the last two races but I might be able to win the next two. And if I can’t. I’ll just have to make sure I finish as high as I can,” said Lorenzo.

Pedrosa is also determined to make up for lost time, having not raced in Malaysia since 2009 – the race was cancelled last year and he missed 2010 due to injury. Pedrosa is also going for a hat-trick after winning the last two races in Aragon and Motegi.

Backing up his determination is his impressive record at Sepang – two victories (2003 in 125cc and 2004 in 250cc) and four podiums in MotoGP. Pedrosa is aware he must stay in front of his rival in order to keep alive his chances for a first world crown.

“It’s been two seasons since I raced in Sepang and I’m looking forward to it now. It’s a track where you have a little bit of everything – it’s hard to ride, it’s hot, there are fast and slow corners, hard braking, long straights and everybody has references from the testing,” said Pedrosa.

“Nevertheless, we need to wait and see on Friday what the temperature and track conditions are like to understand how the tyres will work because it’s normally very slippery. “I really enjoy racing now and I want to continue like this, pushing the maximum from our side.”

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner of Australia, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the season, is third with 197 points and has no chance of catching the two Spaniards.

The first two of three practice sessions get under way today and the organisers are anticipating a sell-out crowd this year, with local rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin in good form.

Schedule

TODAY (19 Oct 2012)

9.15am-9.55am: Moto3 Free Practice 1

10.10am-10.55am: MotoGP Free Practice 1

11.10am-11.55am: Moto2 Free Practice 1

12.10pm-12.30pm: Superbikes/Superstock/Supersport Free Practice

12.40pm-1pm: SIC Ninja 250 Cup Free Practice

1.15pm-1.55pm: Moto3 Free Practice 2

2.10pm-2.55pm: MotoGP Free Practice 2

3.10pm -3.55pm: Moto2 Free Practice 2

4pm-4.40pm: Superbikes/Superstock/Supersport Qualifying Practice

4.50pm-5.10pm: SIC Ninja 250 Cup Qualifying Practice

TOMORROW (20 Oct 2012)

9.15am-9.55am: Moto3 Free Practice 3

10.10am-10.55am: MotoGP Free Practice 3

11.10am-11.55am: Moto2 Free Practice 3

12.05pm-12.35pm: MotoX2 (Ducati 2-seater)

1pm-1.40pm: Moto3 Qualifying Practice

1.55pm-2.55pm: MotoGP Qualifying Practice

3.10pm-3.55pm: Moto2 Qualifying Practice

4.10pm-4.40pm: MotoX2 (Ducati 2-seater)

5pm: Superbikes/Superstock/Supersport Race 1 (10 laps)

5.45pm: SIC Ninja 250 Cup Race 1 (8 laps)

SUNDAY (21 Oct 2012)

8.15am-8.45am: Superbikes/Superstock/Supersport Race 2 (8 laps)

9am-9.30am: SIC Ninja 250 Cup Race 2 (10 laps)

10.40am-11.00am: Moto3 Warm-Up

11.10am-11.30am: Moto2 Warm-Up

11.40am-Noon: MotoGP Warm-Up

12.05pm-12.35pm: MotoX2 (Ducati 2-seater)

12.05pm-12.35pm: MotoGP VIP Village Pit Lane Walk

1pm: Moto3 Race (18 laps)

2.20pm: Moto2 Race (19 laps)

4pm: MotoGP Race (20 laps)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

MotoGP (after 15 races): 1. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 310pts, 2. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 282, 3. Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 197, 4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Yamaha 192, 5. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Honda 144.

Moto2 (after 14 races): 1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Suter 283 pts, 2. Pol Espargaro (Spa) Kalex 230, 3. Andrea Iannone (Ita) Speed Up 178, 4. Thomas Luthi (Swi) Suter 177, 5. Scott Redding (Bri) Kalex 144.

Moto3 (after 14 races): 1. Sandro Cortese (Ger) KTM 255pts, 2. Maverick Vinales (Spa) FTR Honda 199, 3. Luis Salom (Spa) Kalex KTM 194, 4. Romano Fenati (Ita) FTR Honda 126, 5. Alex Rins (Spa) Suter Honda 119. Selected: 7. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Mas) KTM.

-thestar online.