We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: never underestimate Marc Márquez. The Spaniard started qualifying in the gravel and grass, but ended it as the final polesitter at Phillip Island for the Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia. Read on for all the Saturday morning action at the Australian GP, including a recap of Free Practice 2 and MotoGP Qualifying.
Free Practice 2 Recap: Marc Márquez Dominates in Changing Conditions
While the sun had finally peeked through the clouds on Phillip Island, the weekend had come to an early close for Luca Marini. The #10 rider was declared unfit to continue for the remainder of the Australian GP weekend.
Riders moved around the circuit for the 30-minute session, clearing away the deluge of water on the tarmac. All started on wet tyres, but only a couple of riders changed at the end of the session. The top times of the session are as follows:
P1: Marc Márquez 1:37.112
P2: Pedro Acosta +0.823
P3: Jorge Martín +1.018
P4: Marco Bezzecchi +1.104
P5: Johann Zarco +1.240
P6: Fabio Di Giannantonio +1.354
P7: Álex Márquez +1.375
P8: Jack Miller +1.596
P9: Raúl Fernández +1.624
P10: Diogo Moreira +2.226
Tyre Changes Make the Difference in Q1 on a Drying Circuit
The track had mostly cleared from the earlier session and the rain held off for the start of Q1. Green lights on and 15 minutes counted down as riders made their way out for their first time attacks. Though the call was to stay on the wet tyres, some gambled with the medium wet compound on the front tyre. Francesco Bagnaia had an early moment before the session started, but was making time on the front runners of Johann Zarco and Jack Miller.
Franco Morbidelli took his time coming out of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, just as Zarco returned to the pit lane. Fresh tyres on, riders flew out for the final five minutes. Fabio Quartararo was just off the pace on mediums, but Zarco kept everyone at bay with a 1:35.997. Bagnaia put in a flying lap to get himself into P2.
But there was still time for someone to take either of those two advancing spots. Brad Binder was the first, but home hero Miller pushed it to get into P1. The #43 was on the mediums, while Zarco secured P2 on a new set of soft tyres. For Miller, this would be his first Q2 appearance since the 2026 British GP.
Rain Returns, Putting Pressure on Championship Leaders
With the two wet weather specialists moving into Q2, the energy built for the last MotoGP qualifying session at Philip Island. The track still damp, it would be a risk for any rider to head out on slicks. While Marco Bezzecchi was the lead contender for pole after Friday’s Free Practice 2, the Italian has only one wet-weather pole under his belt.
As soon as Q2 began, the rain arrived, with raincoats and umbrellas popping up in the spectator stands. Changed conditions meant that every corner and lap time counted. For Marc Márquez, Turn 4 proved to be his undoing. The reigning MotoGP champion crashed under trail braking, making his way back to the Ducati Lenovo Team garage for the second bike.
Meanwhile, Zarco took provisional pole as riders finally posted their first lap times. Only M.Márquez was yet to make it onto the board as he returned to the circuit. However, if any rider can achieve the impossible under pressure, it’s the #93. He immediately went to the top of the timing board with more than five minutes of the session remaining.
Bezzecchi was held up behind Diogo Moreira as the rookie toured around the circuit. No one was holding up Zarco, who put in another phenomenal lap to take provisional pole once again. Sector times continued to improve across the board as the last flying laps began.
Miller pushed to come up to P2, a reverse of the Q1 result. But M.Márquez made no mistakes this time, taking his 6th pole on Phillip Island with a lap in the 1:34s. A.Márquez knocked Zarco down to P3, pushing local Aussie Miller to the second row on the grid.