Alex Marquez Shines in Gresini 1-2 Finish at Phillip Island, But Cautious Ahead of Penalty-Laden Race Day

Alex Marquez finishes in second place for Gresini, trailing his brother Marc in Friday's practice session at Phillip Island, yet there are "no celebrations" despite the achievement.

During Friday's practice session for the Australian MotoGP, Alex Marquez achieved an ideal result, securing a one-two finish for Gresini just behind his brother and teammate, Marc Marquez.

Due to intense rainfall leading to the cancellation of the first practice session, the #73 ended the busy afternoon session only 0.102 seconds behind his sibling.

Importantly, prior to his timed run, Alex was among the limited number of racers who collected information on the medium rear tire, which is resistant to heat, while the majority of others only used the soft tire.

"The conditions were challenging, but that's typical for Phillip Island, and quick adaptation is key," Alex mentioned to MotoGP.com. "Right from the start, I was both speedy and consistent, which is a positive sign."

"During the later stages of our timed attempts, we faced some bad luck due to numerous yellow flags. However, I got fortunate later on, managing to perform exceptionally well in the first and second sectors while following Marc."

"After that, I found myself on my own but focused on maintaining my speed, resulting in a really impressive lap time. It might have been one of the finest laps I've ever completed."

"When you're having a great time while cycling, speed comes naturally. I really enjoyed myself today, and that made all the difference."

However, following the inability to complete the past two grand prix races and heading into Sunday's event with a long lap penalty due to a collision with Joan Mir at Motegi, Marquez remains grounded in his expectations.

He expressed satisfaction with their initial progress. However, he remains mindful of their past challenges and prefers not to make a big deal out of a Friday, as he believes it is not significant.

"We must continue in this manner by evaluating what areas require enhancement. It's important to assess the condition of the tires and determine the necessary steps for tomorrow to ensure a strong performance, starting with a successful qualifying session followed by an effective Sprint."

"Clearly, the penalty on Sunday will affect us, particularly given the positive momentum, but we’ll handle it."

When asked about the newly laid asphalt at Phillip Island, Marquez noted that the grip is excellent, although he was taken aback by the presence of a few bumps.

"The fresh tarmac provides excellent traction, though it has a lot of bumps," he mentioned. "I anticipated a much smoother surface, but it's already quite uneven. However, the level of grip is astonishing."

"It's beneficial that the afternoon stayed dry, as otherwise, managing the tires tomorrow would be more challenging."

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