Marco Bezzecchi Tops Phillip Island MotoGP Practice Ahead of Raul Fernandez
Marco Bezzecchi led the pre-qualifying session for the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island, setting a fastest lap of 1:26.775. The session, which saw Aprilia riders dominate the top five positions, was interrupted by red flags due to track hazards, including a collision and a roaming wallaby.
Aprilia’s dominance at Phillip Island
The pre-qualifying results on Friday signaled a significant performance surge for the Aprilia factory and satellite teams. Marco Bezzecchi secured the top spot, while Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez followed in second. Teammate Ogura claimed fourth, with championship leader Jorge Martin finishing fifth. According to reports from livegp.it, this collective effort effectively placed all four Aprilia motorcycles within the top five positions, marking a strong start to the weekend for the Noale-based manufacturer.
Collisions and a wallaby trigger red flags
Race Direction halted the session twice during the opening minutes. The first interruption occurred after Marco Bezzecchi collided with Alex Marquez, scattering debris across the racing line. Shortly thereafter, the session was stopped again when a wallaby crossed the track.
Marc Marquez leads Ducati riders in third
Despite the Aprilia surge, Marc Marquez remained the top-performing Ducati rider, finishing the session in third place. Marquez demonstrated consistent pace throughout the practice, maintaining effectiveness on both medium and soft rear tire compounds, even as the latter reached the end of its lifespan. His performance provided a counterpoint to the Aprilia-heavy leaderboard, keeping the Borgo Panigale manufacturer firmly in contention.
Riders choose soft tires for single-lap performance
Although Michelin recommended the medium compound for the race to manage wear and improve stability across the circuit’s notoriously bumpy surface, most of the grid opted for soft rear tires during the pre-qualifying session. The primary objective for the riders was to maximize single-lap performance to secure a favorable starting position for the weekend’s events.
| Position | Rider | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia |
| 3 | Marc Marquez | Ducati |
| 5 | Jorge Martin | Aprilia |
Qualifying and Sprint schedule
The Australian MotoGP action continues tomorrow with qualifying sessions scheduled for 01:50 CET. The Sprint race is set to follow, with the start time confirmed for 06:00 CET.
The current standings reflect a highly competitive field where small margins in tire choice and mechanical setup determine the final grid. With qualifying and the Sprint race still ahead, the performance gap between the Aprilia and Ducati camps remains narrow, setting the stage for a critical weekend in the championship.