World championship leader Jorge Martin says he is a less nervous and a more mature rider than he was at this stage of his 2023 points battle with Francesco Bagnaia.

Pramac Ducati’s Martin heads into this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, the penultimate event of the season, with a lead of 17 points over factory Ducati rider Bagnaia. Last year he came into the penultimate round as the chaser, 14 points behind Bagnaia – and ultimately lost out at the final round.

Speaking ahead of the Sepang weekend, Martin claimed to be far more relaxed as the duo repeat their battle in 2024.

“Last season I was really tense and really nervous,” admitted the Spaniard. “I was really struggling with the situation and I felt a lot of pressure.

“This year, pressure is there but I think I’ve improved a lot. I’m much more mature now. I know I can lose it but I know I can win it. Last year I lost it and nothing happened to me – it’s not the end of the world!

“I try to learn from the pain and the bad moments. I think that’s where you learn more – losing can also be really exciting!”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

For his part, Bagnaia said he would thrive on the pressure of chasing – and that he needs to cut Martin’s advantage to under 10 points heading into the final round.

“Pressure is always there but it’s nice to be in this situation,” remarked the reigning champion. “I love to be in this situation. It’s a critical situation for [the rider chasing]: you know you have to be fast because you cannot lose points. You have to be the faster one but you cannot make mistakes.

“I will try to win both races and close the gap. We have to try and gain more than the three points we gained in Thailand last weekend. We need to go away from this weekend with a gap of less than 10 points.”

The Italian pointed out that Martin would also face his own brand of pressure trying to guard a lead.

“We’re at a moment where I have to take a bit more risk than Jorge. He can be more calm. He doesn’t need to make mistakes because he can also finish second.

“But I was in Jorge’s situation last year and I know it’s a situation where you feel like you need to be more calm. Being competitive in this situation is not easy.”

Where exactly that final round will take place remains an open question given the doubts around the Valencia venue. The region is currently dealing with a major flood situation that has cost lives as well as heavily damaging at least one of the circuit access roads.

Martin and Bagnaia joined a number of riders to argue on Thursday that the finale should be moved elsewhere.

“Valencia will be difficult even if everything [around the circuit] is solved. It’s a difficult situation [in terms of] respect for the people over there. The best option would be to race elsewhere.”

Asked which alternative venue would be ideal from his perspective, Martin joked: “For sure I wouldn’t want to go to Assen. Pecco is so strong there!”

Bagnaia underlined the ethical issue with racing in Valencia in somewhat stronger terms.

“For me, the ethical side is the most difficult thing. Racing there is like a party…it’s a moment to enjoy. But knowing that the situation is what it is, it’s not correct. It could be wrong to race there.

“If it were my choice, I would prefer not to race there. It’s not my decision, but we have many more options.”

Regarding alternative venues, Bagnaia said: “Assen could be good, but it’s too cold. Mugello, maybe!”

Financial rules around Sporting mean they have to confirm to the Lisbon Stock Exchange when an agreement has been reached for him to leave.

Amorim is due to speak to the media at 13:00 before Friday’s Estrela match.

Three hours later, Ruud van Nistelrooy will conduct his first news conference since being appointed as United’s interim manager.

After the victory over Leicester, Van Nistelrooy said he was willing to continue working at the club “in any capacity”.

United have home league matches against Chelsea on Sunday and Leicester on 10 November before the international break, split by a Europa League tie with Greek side PAOK at Old Trafford on 7 November.

They head to newly promoted Ipswich, managed by former United coach Kieran McKenna, immediately after the international break.

Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt could be Amorim’s first Old Trafford opposition in the Europa League on 28 November, with a Premier League game against Everton the following weekend.

JOE MARLER has received a backlash for calling to ban the Haka.

The experienced England international, 34, was writing on social media ahead of his country’s match against New Zealand at Twickenham this Saturday.

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Ahead of matches, it is customary for the All Blacks to perform their famous Haka.

The Haka is a culturally significant war dance in Maori tradition.

Marler, however, has claimed that it is “ridiculous” and should be axed.

He wrote on X on Tuesday: “The haka needs binning. It’s ridiculous.

“It’s only any good when teams actually front it with some sort of reply. Like the league boys did last week.”

Last Sunday, England’s rugby league national team faced Samoa in Wigan.

After Samoa performed their traditional Siva Tau pre-match routine, Mikey Lewis found himself head-to-head with Gordon Chan Kum Tong.

Marler received a backlash for his post, with one social user responding: “Have a bit of respect for other cultures.”

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Following the responses, Marler temporarily deactivated his X account.

The Harlequins star went on to return on Wednesday morning, posting: “Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses.”

He went on to add in a further post: “Also needed to satisfy my narcissism.”

Marler has been recovering from a broken foot sustained in the summer and will not feature in this Saturday’s first Autumn International.

He is in the 36-man squad, however, and could be called upon by head coach Steve Borthwick in the coming weeks.

Autumn Nations Series fixtures

Saturday, November 2

• 3.10pm: England vs New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium
• 5.40pm: Scotland vs Fiji, Murrayfield

Friday, November 8

• 8.10pm: Ireland vs New Zealand, Aviva Stadium

Saturday, November 9

• 3.10pm: England vs Australia, Twickenham
• 5.40pm: Italy vs Argentina, Stadio Friuli
• 8.10pm: France vs Japan, Stade de France

Sunday, November 10

• 1.40pm: Wales vs Fiji, Principality Stadium
• 4.10pm: Scotland vs South Africa, Murrayfield

Friday, November 15

• 8.10pm: Ireland vs Argentina, Aviva Stadium

Saturday, November 16

• 3.10pm: Scotland vs Portugal, Murrayfield
• 5.40pm: England vs South Africa, Twickenham
• 8.10pm: France vs New Zealand, Stade de France

Sunday, November 17

• 1.40pm: Italy vs Georgia, Stadio Luigi Ferraris
• 4.10pm: Wales vs Australia, Principality Stadium

Friday, November 22

• 8.10pm: France vs Argentina, Stade de France

Saturday, November 23

• 3.10pm: Ireland vs Fiji, Aviva Stadium
• 5.40pm: Wales vs South Africa, Principality Stadium
• 8.10pm: Italy vs New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Turin

Sunday, November 24

• 1.40pm: Scotland vs Australia, Murrayfield
• 4.10pm: England vs Japan, Twickenham

Saturday, November 30

• 3.10pm: Ireland vs Australia, Aviva Stadium

Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer has not ruled out continuing his relationship with Porsche when he leaves its World Endurance Championship Hypercar squad after this season.

The German, who took his three Le Mans wins with Audi in 2011, ’12 and ’14, has revealed that talks with Porsche to extend his time with the marque are on-going.

But he declined to go into detail ahead of this weekend’s WEC finale in Bahrain in which he can claim a second world championship title together with Porsche Penske Motorsport team-mates Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre.

“There are talks and it is possible [to continue with Porsche],” Lotterer told Motorsport.com.

“There are discussions about what I could do in the future; they have asked me about what I would like to do after this.

“But I want to do this race first and then see afterwards – there is a championship to win.

“I don’t want anything to interfere with that.”

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

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Lotterer will be out of contract at Porsche at the end of this season and has lost his place in the #6 Penske-run factory 963 LMDh as the German manufacturer downscales its full-season line-up from three to two drivers per car for 2025.

The 42-year-old stressed that he has no plans to retire from driving whether he remains with Porsche or not.

“I don’t want to retire,” said the German.

“When I stop, that is something that I would like to decide myself.”

Lotterer has been linked to a role with Hyundai, which is developing an LMDh to race with the badges of its premium Genesis brand, but he declined to reveal whether he is in talks with a marque expected to enter the WEC in 2026.

“When something comes to an end, people ask what you could do next?” said Lotterer.

“Regardless of whether I am talking to them, there are other other opportunities for sure.”

Lotterer plumped for the current WEC season, which has so far included wins in Qatar and at Fuji as well as a further three podiums, as the highlight of a stint with Porsche that began in 2017 after his switch from Audi following its withdrawal from the WEC.

“Last season when we came back [to the top class of the WEC] was so-so, but this year we have had a winning car and it is my best time with Porsche,” said Lotterer, who won his first WEC title with Audi in 2012.

He also revealed that he took satisfaction from Porsche’s successes in Formula E after his departure from its squad after three seasons at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

“We worked really hard to have a strong foundation,” he explained.

“What we are seeing now is an evolution of that: it is nice to see the team succeeding.”

Porsche’s factory squad won the FE title in 2023/24 with Pascal Wehrlein after Jake Dennis took the crown in ’22/23 with its powertrain in an Andretti entry.