The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit tested riders’ performance and patience in the first session of the Australian GP weekend. But it’s home hero, Jack Miller, who has set the pace for everyone else to follow. The #43 set a final flying lap time of 1:28.281 in the cool and windy conditions. He stole the top spot right on the checkered flag from Álex Márquez, who lost time in an altercation with Miller’s Pramac Yamaha teammate, Miguel Oliveira. Read on for the key observations of the MotoGP Free Practice 1 session.
Rider Replacements Step Up on the Island
We have some familiar faces rejoining the MotoGP grid this weekend in the MotoGP. Michele Pirro in place of 2025 World Champion Marc Márquez, Lorenzo Savadori stepping in for Jorge Martín, and Pol Espargaró replacing Maverick Viñales. All three have been ruled out of participating this weekend and in Malaysia.
Espargaró was the first to make a time attack commitment, keeping up with the top ten fastest on the circuit during the first fifteen minutes. Savadori kept it low-key, finishing the session at the tail end of the timeboard along with Pirro. However, all three finished with times outside of the top fifteen riders on the timeboard.
Performance Highs and Lows
As the forty-five-minute session began, Pedro Acosta made quick work to make some overtakes around the circuit and was the first to come to the top of the timesheet with a lap of 1:32.214. The #37 improved on that time in his next flying lap by nearly two seconds. Marco Bezzecchi beat him out with the first time in the 1:28s. However, Brad Binder quickly took the lead for himself. Franco Morbidelli was offline at Turn 1, rapidly sliding into Doohan Corner. The Italian’s crash was not the only one of the session. Joan Mir came streaming down toward the same corner near the end of the session, with smoke blowing out of the back of his Honda machine.
One of the riders who did not set a time in the first few minutes was Francesco Bagnaia. The #63 came in directly before completing a lap around the circuit, looking incredibly frustrated from the Ducati Lenovo Team machine’s performance. He lost critical track time as he swapped from his number one bike to the back-up. Bagnaia seemed happier in his choice, staying out to the relief of his team. However, his body language looked defeated as he returned to the garage at the halfway mark, demonstrating stability issues. Bagnaia finally cracked the top ten as the session came to a close, but it doesn’t hold a lot of confidence for the Practice session later in the afternoon.
The Top Ten
- Jack Miller
- Álex Márquez
- Pedro Acosta
- Fermín Aldeguer
- Fabio Quartararo
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Johann Zarco
- Fabio Di Giannantonio
- Brad Binder
What’s to Come Over the Weekend
There are a number of factors to consider as the Australian GP weekend progresses. Fermín Aldeguer is on track to be named Rookie of the Year should he outscore Ai Ogura. His BK8 Gresini Racing teammate, Á.Márquez, will secure second in the championship if he finishes the weekend 112 points ahead of Bagnaia. Lastly, Johann Zarco and Álex Rins are the only riders on the grid this weekend who have won at Phillip Island. There is also a possible change to the schedule to be discussed in a safety commission briefing later in the day. Watch this space as we keep you updated throughout the Australian GP weekend.