MotoGP News: Marquez brothers top challenging opening day

Marc Marquez dominated a dramatic opening MotoGP practice session of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix with Q2 berths on the line.

After no running in FP1, Friday afternoon’s practice session proved to be a crucial and intense 60 minutes of action.

Marc Marquez was the only rider to be fast throughout the tricky hour-long practice, ultimately being the pace setter with a 1:27.770 on his #93 year old Ducati.

Marc finished ahead of his brother and Gresini teammate Alex Marquez. The #73 improved on his final lap, ending the day a mere 0.102s behind after completing 25 laps. Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi rounded out the top three in an impressive day for the Italian at Phillip Island.

There was plenty of drama in the opening stages of the session, with a chance of rain, riders and teams set early benchmarks in the opening five minutes. Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) would crash at Turn 4 in the opening stages – rider OK. Then, with 45 minutes remaining, the red flag was shown due to safety conditions, with both Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Martin yet to set a time. The session resumed, and Martin crucially entered the top 10 on his first flying lap.

The #89 improved further, placing a mere 0.009s behind Marc Marquez, who sat in provisional P1 before home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) entered the 1:28 bracket. The #93 soon responded, eventually dipping into the 1:27 bracket as Bagnaia entered the top five spots. Marc Marquez’ time proved to be strong enough, with his brother soon joining him at the top to make it a Gresini one-two.

Martin held onto fourth at the end of Friday despite an early crash, finishing in front of title rival Bagnaia. The reigning World Champion was unable to dip into the 1:27 bracket but will sleep well after claiming a spot in Q2 tomorrow. The Italian was ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) in sixth spot. The #12 was the top Aprilia rider and the only rider from the Noale factory to place inside the top 10.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took seventh, pushing hard throughout the hour session. The South African was a further 0.105s behind Viñales but did end the day ahead of the fighting fit Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who secured eighth at the end of the opening day. Di Giannantonio placed ahead of compatriot Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) bagging an impressive 10th.

Meanwhile, an unpredictable Q1 awaits on Saturday, with tension now beginning to build after Miller finishing Friday in 12th after suffering a second crash of the day. The Australian will be joined in Q1 by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with the rookie also suffering a fall – riders OK. Meanwhile, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini will have work to do, ending the day in 16th spot – 0.989s adrift.

2024 Australian MotoGP, Phillip Island – Friday Practice Results

* Rookie