( CNN ) -- Dani Pedrosa repeated his 2012 success at a sweltering Sepang Sunday but his Honda teammate Marc Marquez took another big step towards the MotoGP world title by finishing a fine second . The 20-year-old Marquez won a thrilling battle with defending champion Jorge Lorenzo for Yamaha to increase his lead over his fellow Spaniard in the championship standings to 43 points . Marquez can wrap up the title next week at Philip Island in Australia , the first rookie to win the MotoGP premier crown in 35 years . He admitted that getting the better of Lorenzo , moving ahead for the final time halfway through the 20 lap race was satisfying . `` It was a nice battle with Jorge . I enjoyed it a lot , '' Marquez told the official MotoGP website . `` The target of this weekend was to finish in front of Jorge , '' he said , . It left Pedrosa to go unchallenged to the finish for this third win of the season and to close within 11 points of second placed Lorenzo in the title standings . He took command in 40 degree Celsius temperatures , taking the lead from polesitter Marquez early in the race . `` It 's a great feeling to be back ... I came back strong , '' said Pedrosa , who suffered a crash in the last round in Spain after a coming together with Marquez . The incident earned Marquez a penalty point , his third of the season and a warning . Lorenzo 's teammate , seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy , finished fourth followed by Spanish Honda rider Alvaro Bautista . Britain 's rising star Cal Crutchlow , who started third on the grid , eventually finished sixth , just ahead of compatriot Bradley Smith . Malaysia is the 15th race of the 18 round season , with Australia next , followed by Japan and the final race in Valencia . Marquez is likely to be celebrating the title in front of his home fans in the finale after a remarkable debut season , replacing the retired Casey Stoner in the Repsol Honda line-up .
Dani Pedrosa wins Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang . Honda teammate Marc Marquez in second place . The race was the first of three races for both riders this season and it ended with a bang as they took their third win at Sepang. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi in fourth .