The key facts

  • Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) was fastest in Friday practice: 1:26.775, ahead of Raul Fernandez and Marc Marquez
  • The session was twice interrupted by red flags: Bezzecchi's crash and a kangaroo appearing on track
  • Phillip Island hosts its last MotoGP — from 2027 the race will be held on a street circuit in Adelaide

Bezzecchi tops practice after a crash

Italian Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi, despite crashing early in the session, set the fastest time in Friday practice for the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix at the Phillip Island circuit — 1 minute 26.775 seconds, set at the very end of the session in warm but windy conditions. Bezzecchi, who won the previous round in Indonesia and sits third in the championship, beat last year's Australian Grand Prix winner Raul Fernandez by 0.072 seconds. Reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Ducati) was third, a further 0.054 behind, with Ai Ogura on an Aprilia fourth.

Two red flags: a crash and a kangaroo

Bezzecchi fell at the fourth turn at the start of the session, clipping the rear wheel of Alex Marquez, after which his motorcycle landed on his right leg. After the session resumed, it was interrupted again by red flags — a kangaroo was spotted on the track. At that moment Jorge Martin was leading, but after the restart he was overtaken by the returning Bezzecchi and then by Marc Marquez. Marquez was the first to break the 1:27 barrier with eight minutes to go, but in the final minutes he was beaten by Bezzecchi and Fernandez.

Championship standings and qualifying

Overall championship leader Jorge Martin, who leads Marc Marquez by two points with five rounds remaining in the season, was fifth. The top ten are exempt from the first part of qualifying on Saturday and are guaranteed to start no lower than 12th in both the sprint and Sunday's race. Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo missed the top 10.

Numerous crashes and breakdowns

The morning session, in which Marc Marquez set the fastest time, was marked by numerous incidents: Raul Fernandez, Iker Lecuona and Jack Miller suffered heavy crashes, while Brad Binder had a serious engine failure. In the afternoon session, Miller and Pramac Yamaha's Augusto Fernandez crashed, as did Alex Marquez.

The last MotoGP at Phillip Island

The Phillip Island circuit, located by the sea, has been on the MotoGP calendar since 1997, but next year the Australian round will move to a street circuit in Adelaide. Rain is forecast for the weekend, according to AFP.