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Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) backed up his win and Championship title from Phillip Island with another impressive performance at Sepang International Circuit, taking the win after catching and passing early leader Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3). Martin took second – just – after dueling with Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0) to the line. Bastianini was just 0.039 off the Spaniard over the line to complete the podium. Mir now has 11 wins to extend his lead in the record books in the "most wins in Moto3™" category, and is the first rider to win ten races in a year in the lighweight category since Marc Marquez in 2010.

  La mejor manera de celebrar el campeonato!! Ya son 10😱🏆 Best way to celebrate the title!! #nowords A post shared by JoanMir36 (@joan_mir36) on Oct 29, 2017 at 4:32am PDT

It was Martin who got the holeshot from second on the grid, and the Spaniard shot away into the lead early – six tenths inside the lap record second time around. In clear air and breaking the slipstream effect early, it seemed it could be a done deal – but Mir was soon on the chase. The new Champion reeled in his compatriot and sliced past as soon as he was on the scene – but he wasn’t able to escape. Bastianini was then able to catch the pair and the three were together on track until a close moment between the number 33 and the number 88 allowed Mir to make a break for it.

  🇲🇾P2!!! Carrera muy dura siempre dando el 100%, nos vamos con dos podium de la gira! Más en Valencia!!✊🏽😈// Hard race pushing till the end! We go back home with two podiums at the Asian tour! More gasss in Valencia! #JM88 A post shared by Jorge Martin Almoguera (@88jorgemartin) on Oct 29, 2017 at 3:11am PDT

Not needing a second invitation, the Majorcan was then able to hold onto it and leave the two behind to duel it out for the remaining spots on the podium, with that decided at the final corner in favour of Martin.

Livio Loi (Leopard Racing) put in another impressive ride after bouncing back from a broken collarbone earlier in the season, and the Belgian had a lonely ride to fourth. He was ahead of an incredible group battle for fifth as John McPhee (British Talent Team) made his move on the final lap to take the reins in that fight, crossing the line in P5 by just 0.039 over Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46).

  Good job, mate! 🏍🏁🔝👏🏻 P4⃣ @livioloi11 💪🏻 #MalaysianGP🇲🇾 A post shared by leopard_moto (@leopard_moto) on Oct 28, 2017 at 10:43pm PDT

Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) took seventh ahead of his rival for second in the standings Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0), thereby confirming himself as the runner up in 2017. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) was able to move up from his grid position for ninth, with Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top ten.