Marquez Leads Amidst Phillip Island Drama: 2024 Australian MotoGP Practice Highlights

Friday Practice Outcomes from the 2024 Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island

Results from Friday's practice session for the Australian MotoGP, held at Phillip Island, during the 17th round out of 20 in the 2024 global championship.

2024 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island – Trial Outcomes

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Authentic Records from the Phillip Island MotoGP:

Top lap time: Jorge Martin clocked at 1 minute and 27.246 seconds (2023)

Quickest lap recorded in the race: Marc Marquez achieved a time of 1 minute and 28.108 seconds (

Marc Marquez took the front position ahead of his Gresini team colleague and sibling Alex, along with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, in an intense first practice session on Friday for the 2024 Australian MotoGP. This session was the day's sole event for the top-tier riders at Phillip Island.

Due to a deluge, the morning FP1 session was called off, leading to an initial extension of the afternoon practice from 60 minutes to 80. However, this adjustment was subsequently retracted, and the duration was restored to the standard 60 minutes as conditions on the track improved.

However, ominous signs loomed, and initial troubles for championship contenders Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, along with hometown favorite Jack Miller, risked pushing them into the first round of qualifying should the rain make a comeback.

To the great satisfaction of the teams, riders, and Michelin, who were all eagerly in need of information on the new pavement, the weather stayed clear for the session.

Martin and Bagnaia secured their spots in Qualifying 2, however, prominent figures such as Miller and Enea Bastianini didn't make the top ten cut, setting their path for Saturday’s Q1 session.

The afternoon turned disastrous for the leading contender in the world championship, Martin, when he collided while attempting to dodge Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo at the hairpin bend of Turn 4.

Martin made his way back to the Pramac garage, whereas Miller experienced a fall on the slick grass following a wide turn at the corner that bears his name. Current champion Bagnaia faced subtler problems and likewise did not clock an early lap time.

Amidst conditions of a dry racetrack with ominous clouds gathering, Marquez quickly surged ahead, creating a 1.7-second gap from the rest of the competitors.

The Gresini team's competitor consistently bettered his performance, maintaining a lead of 0.2 seconds over Fabio di Giannantonio, until the race was halted by red flags because of a sizeable goose present on the track.

Bagnaia and Martin certainly didn't need this, especially since the onset of rain would doom them to participating in Qualifying 1.

As soon as the session resumed, Miller and Martin quickly exited the pit lane, closely followed by Bagnaia. Each of them opted for a soft rear tire for their time trial.

Martin made a stylish entrance, quickly securing the second spot just behind Marquez with his second attempt. Hometown hero Miller rapidly ascended through the ranks into the top ten, while Bagnaia advanced to ninth position after the 25-minute mark.

Miller led the pack for KTM midway through the race until Marquez regained the lead. Shortly after, Maverick Vinales managed to push Aprilia to the front, only for Marquez, his rear tyre emitting smoke, to reclaim his position.

Pedro Acosta, who secured the pole position at Motegi, managed to avoid a fall by dismounting his leg but subsequently slipped on the damp grass towards the session's close. Shortly after, footage showed Miller retreating from a high-speed crash, resulting in his failure to advance directly to Q2.

Fabio Quartararo expressed his dissatisfaction to the Monster Yamaha squad when his M1's rear tire was observed lifting off the ground and vibrating intensely at the Turn 4 hairpin.

The shaking appeared to be at least as severe as the oscillations Miller experienced at Motegi, but this instance may not have been caused by the tire, as the newly laid asphalt is reported to have some wavy irregularities. Update: Quartararo encountered an issue with his clutch.

Quartararo made an impressive comeback, making it into the top ten right behind his teammate Alex Rins, but was edged out at the last moment. Rins, disheartened from a disastrous race at Motegi, managed to secure the last direct spot in Q2.

Johann Zarco, the previous year's victor from Pramac Ducati, showcased notable performance during many practice sessions but will still proceed to Qualifying 1.

Lorenzo Savadori, a wild-card entry, crashed on his Trackhouse Aprilia at the daunting first turn, known as Doohan corner, towards the end of the session. Although Savadori was able to walk away from the incident, the crash led to yellow flags being waved, which interrupted the quick laps.

Due to illness, Raul Fernandez was only able to finish 11 laps.

The third free practice session on Saturday morning will extend to 40 minutes instead of the usual 30, as a result of FP1 being called off.

With no MotoGP data available for Phillip Island's new track surface, Michelin is providing an additional third rear tyre choice this weekend.

"Regarding the front tires, we're sticking with the usual soft, medium, and hard compounds for 2023. However, for the rear tires, we're introducing an extra option, making it three choices instead of the typical two," explained Piero Taramasso from Michelin.

"We're going to include the soft compound that comes with its standard internal makeup. Additionally, we'll feature two types of tyres, medium and hard compounds, which will have the enhanced construction previously observed at Mandalika towards the end of September."

The flexible back tire, which is the medium mix from the previous year's race, was chosen by the majority of competitors for the Grand Prix on Saturday.

Miguel Oliveira remains unable to compete due to broken bones in his right wrist sustained in Mandalika, with Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia's test rider, stepping in for him at Trackhouse.

Ducati Lenovo, leading Pramac by 167 points, has the opportunity to secure their fourth MotoGP team championship if they can extend their lead to at least 198 points after the Australian race.

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