SEPANG: Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia sprint race winner Alex Marquez is expecting the championship contenders to raise their game in the main race at Sepang Circuit tomorrow.
The Gresini Racing rider, who started from fourth on the grid today, said both championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) have the ability to do so.
"Things can change significantly from one day to another," said Marquez during the post-race media scrum.
"They can check the data (of other Ducati riders) and learn many things so for sure tomorrow they will make a step forward (progress).
"They are playing for the championship and when you are in that position you always give a little bit more."
Marquez, who overtook Bagnaia for the lead on the sixth lap, said he was careful not to put the latter at risk of crashing.
"I just tried to overtake them in the corners where I knew that if I were to make a mistake, I could just release the brakes and go a little bit straight (wide)," he added.
"I know it is not easy because I was on the otherside when I was fighting for the Moto2 and Moto3 titles. It is not nice when those on the outside (not in title race) come and brake a little bit, you know (too close)."
Marquez is currently 11th overall with 129 points to his name.
Bagnaia (396 points) currently leads the championship with an 11-point advantage over second placed Martin.
Bagnaia, who won at Sepang last year, said he had issues with his front end during the sprint race. The Italian had qualified on pole and led for the first five laps.
"From lap six I started to struggle a lot with the front. It was difficult to stop the bike with it locking (up)," said Bagnaia.
"There was a lot of movement (in the front end) and I think I was not the only one having this feeling.
"It was very strange and I was not expecting this to happen considering I had done many laps with the front tire both yesterday and today."