The Aprilia rider ended the Friday afternoon session in command with the track record at Phillip Island: 1’26″492. Fernandez and Di Giannantonio followed him. Alex Marquez was fifth. Pecco struggled in the time attack, but qualified for Q2
Immediately fast, very fast: Marco Bezzecchi starts the Australian GP in the best possible way. The Aprilia rider was the fastest in pre-qualifying, which ended with a time of 1’26″492. It is the track record at Phillip Island. The speed shown gives the Italian hope in view of Sunday’s race, when he will have to serve two long lap penalties. If Bezzecchi dreams of a weekend as a protagonist, Francesco Bagnaia seems to be struggling. The Ducati rider avoids elimination in the final minutes, finishing in ninth place.
in q2
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Aprilia also smiles thanks to Raul Fernandez, second at 290 thousandths with the Trackhouse team’s RS-GP. Ducati defends itself with Fabio Di Giannantonio, third (+0.420) and best among the riders of the Emilian brand. Yamaha did well: Fabio Quartararo was fourth, while Alex Rins signed the sixth fastest time. In between them is Alex Marquez’s Ducati Gresini. Seventh time for Luca Marini (Honda), followed by the surprising Pol Espargaro (Ktm), replacing Maverick Vinales, and the aforementioned Bagnaia. The last direct pass for Q2 goes to Pedro Acosta (Ktm). The Spaniard doesn’t get the time attack right at the end and takes a big risk, saving himself by just five thousandths compared to Fermin Aldeguer, eleventh and first among the drivers condemned to progress from Q1. Together with the winner of Mandalika there will be other mocked drivers, such as local idol Jack Miller and Franco Morbidelli.
the fp1
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The first free practice session was affected by the wind. Miller himself was the fastest: the Prima Pramac Yamaha rider stopped the clock in 1’28″281, also taking advantage of the new tire for the time attack. The Australian thus outwitted Alex Marquez, who has long been the point of reference in FP1. The Spaniard from the Gresini team placed himself in second place with a gap of 36 thousandths. Acosta was third (+0.135), ahead of Aldeguer (+0.185) and Quartararo (+0.239). Bezzecchi finished sixth, paying 251 thousandths. Seventh Bagnaia (+0.275): after a complicated start, Pecco recovered with a decent pace. Then Zarco, eighth and best Honda rider (+0.337), followed by Di Giannantonio (+0.350) and Binder (+0.373).
the qualified
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Here are the top 10 classified who will directly access Q2 at Phillip Island: 1 Bezzecchi (Ita/Aprilia) 1’26”492 2 R. Fernandez (Spa/Trackhouse Aprilia) +0.291 3 Di Giannantonio (Ita/VR46 Ducati) +0.420 4 Quartararo (Fra/Yamaha) +0.434 5 A. Marquez (Spa/Gresini Ducati) +0.453 6 Rins (Spa/Yamaha) +0.514 7 Marini (Ita/Honda) +0.559 8 P. Espargaro (Spa/Tech3 Ktm) +0.562 9 Bagnaia (Ita/Ducati) +0.640 10 Acosta (Spa/Ktm) +0.653
the eliminated
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These will be the riders forced to pass through Q1: Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati), Binder (Ktm), Miller (Pramac Yamaha), Mir (Honda), Zarco (Lcr Honda), Oliveira (Pramac Yamaha), Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati), Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia), Savadori (Aprilia), Bastianini (Tech3 Ktm), Pirro (Ducati), Chantra (Lcr Honda)
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