MotoGP Qualifying cancelled as winds batter Phillip Island

High winds brought out the red flag
High winds brought out the red flag

Conditions were deemed too dangerous to continue running at the Australian GP, Qualifying rescheduled for Sunday morning should weather allow it.

Morning running on Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix was limited to just a few laps as high winds and rain hit the Phillip Island Circuit.

While the rain eased in the afternoon, strong gusts of wind persisted. Riders attempted to run during Free Practice 4 but an emergency Safety Commission meeting between the MotoGP class riders ruled it was too dangerous to continue running today.

Before the red flag, Marc Marquez managed a 1’31.185 to lead Free Practice 4 from Maverick Vinales. Jorge Lorenzo completed a best lap of 1’35.589 while working on setup changes during the session and was 20th as the red flag came out.

Marquez fastest in final practice
Marquez fastest in final practice

Sunday’s provisional schedule will see MotoGP Warm Up held at 09:50 Local Time with Qualifying starting immediately after the session at 10:20. The 27-lap Australian Grand Prix is still scheduled to run at 15:00 Local Time, weather permitting.

Marc Marquez 93
"In my opinion it was very dangerous, the wind was there and with the speed on this circuit, you feel it a lot. I was riding alone and you could feel the wind, but it looks like when you overtook another rider like with Zarco and Oliveira, you feel it a lot more. For safety reasons we decided to cancel it. There was no need to risk that much in Qualifying, we were right on the limit of being able to ride and in the end we have another day to do it tomorrow. It will be a busy day with Warm Up, Qualifying and race but it's not the end of the world."

Combined Practice Times so far

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 VINALES Maverick 12 SPA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 1'28.824
2 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 4 ITA Ducati Team Ducati 0.496
3 CRUTCHLOW Cal 35 GBR LCR Honda Honda 0.501
4 PETRUCCI Danilo 9 ITA Ducati Team Ducati 0.503
5 MILLER Jack 43 AUS Pramac Racing Ducati 0.520
6 MARQUEZ Marc 93 SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.597
7 ROSSI Valentino 46 ITA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 0.612
8 RINS Alex 42 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.648
9 MORBIDELLI Franco 21 ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha 0.894
10 ESPARGARO Aleix 41 SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 0.967
11 MIR Joan 36 SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 1.051
12 ABRAHAM Karel 17 CZE Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 1.173
13 IANNONE Andrea 29 ITA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 1.346
14 BAGNAIA Francesco 63 ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 1.602
15 ZARCO Johann 5 FRA LCR Honda Honda 1.617
16 LORENZO Jorge 99 SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1.882
17 ESPARGARO Pol 44 SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 2.035
18 KALLIO Mika 82 FIN Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 2.041
19 SYAHRIN Hafizh 55 MAL Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 2.116
20 OLIVEIRA Miguel 88 POR Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 2.580
21 RABAT Tito 53 SPA Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 2.635
22 QUARTARARO Fabio 20 FRA Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha 6.020