Rennie Scaysbrook | October 16, 2022
Sunday
MotoGP
The Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix made a lot of headlines and a bit of history. The history was the top seven riders finishing, incredibly, within a single second – 0.884, to be exact. It’s also the second closest top ten ever. The headlines? Where do we begin…
It’s Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who took an emotional win, the number 42 fighting at the front throughout and then fending off Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) on the final lap. Marquez, who was forced to settle for second but got back on the box, secured his 100th premier class podium. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), meanwhile, took third, and with it a fair margin of Championship lead as some serious dramas unfolded behind.
The first saw former points leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) run on and face a fight back from outside the top twenty, and his drama wouldn’t end there but the next was for home hero Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team). Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) overcooked it and made contact with the Australian, sending both down and after both had made stellar starts. With that Miller is out of the Championship hunt, and the title fight got another shake up not long after.
Trying to come back through and at least into the points at the time, Quartararo then suddenly slid out of contention at the Southern Loop, lowsiding off into the gravel in another huge twist. That left an open goal for the contenders still battling it out, with Bagnaia on course to claim the lead… but by how much?
The first leaders were polesitter Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marquez, before Rins and Bagnaia reeled them in. As the laps ticked down the overtakes kept coming, and the troops were forming for the podium fight: Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and teammate Luca Marini were arriving on the scene as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) started to fade, watching the chance to capitalise on Quartararo’s error get a little smaller.
The opposite was true of Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as the ‘Beast’ homed in on the fight at the front. As the final showdown started to commence, there were seven riders locked together: Bagnaia, Rins, Marquez, Bezzecchi, Marini, Martin and Bastianini. Who was going to take it?
Bagnaia led them onto the final lap but with ’20 out’ loud and clear on the pit board, the risk vs reward balance was something to consider. But not for Rins and Marquez. Marquez had passed Rins for second at the Southern Loop on the penultimate lap, but the Suzuki rider hit back straight away at Stoner Corner, and that was how they commenced Lap 27 of 27. Rins went a corner earlier this time with a move on Bagnaia for the lead, and Marquez followed to push Pecco down to third. Could the number 93 cook up one final attack?
In the end, Rins was unstoppable. The Suzuki rider kept the door closed to the line as Marquez hung in there looking for a way through, and right behind the focus shifted to Bezzecchi. Would the Italian, Ducati rider and VR46 Academy member launch a late attack on Bagnaia? He wouldn’t. Bagnaia held them off to secure another podium and homed in on Marquez in a big way on the drag to the line, just 0.224 off Rins’ by the flag.
Bezzechi’s fourth place secures him top Independent Team rider in the race and Rookie of the Year for 2022, as he was left to hold off Bastianini and did so – just. The ‘Beast’ was incredibly close by the flag, taking fifth ahead of Marini. Martin took seventh after leading early on from pole, and he creates the stat of the top seven within a second.
Next up came Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who had a comeback on his hands after a tough start but made his way through to an impressive eighth. Aleix Espargaro, on a day that could have paid a few more dividends, faded to ninth place, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounding out the top ten after earlier having charged as far forward as seventh.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) took P11 ahead of a solid comeback for Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Cal Crutchlow (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™), after losing a few positions off the start, finished 13th and contributes a few more Constructors’ points, with rookie teammate Darryn Binder impressing just behind to take a couple of his own points. Speaking of rookies, home hero Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) scored on home turf too, taking P15.
After drama Down Under, it’s just a few days until the paddock heads to Sepang and the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia. Bagnaia now leads by a sizeable 14 points ahead of Quartararo, having pulled off that amazing, record-breaking comeback in the standings. Aleix Espargaro is now 27 back and Bastianini is the last contender after Miller’s 0, with the Italian facing a 42-point deficit with two to go. The first of those is contested next weekend, so tune in for more at Sepang for Bagnaia’s first match point!
2022 Australian MotoGP Results
1 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
|
2 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.186 |
3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.224 |
4 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Duc) |
+ 0.534 |
5 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.557 |
6 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.688 |
7 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.884 |
8 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 3.141 |
9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 4.548 |
10 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 5.940 |
Moto2
Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) played a figurative and literal ace at the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, escaping from the front row to pull out enough gap to serve his Long Lap penalty given in practice and still emerge in the lead – putting the hammer down from there on out to enjoy a track day experience at Phillip Island, winning with over 3.5 seconds in hand. Second went to Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), another two-time rookie race winner this year, with Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) completing the podium after a comeback from P14 on the grid.
The huge headline beyond the podium saw former Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crash out from behind teammate Acosta. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) is the therefore the new points leader, although the Japanese rider could only manage 11th and his advantage is therefore only 3.5 points with two races to go. There are also now only those two contenders remaining, as Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) is now 50 points back and without a win.
From lights out, Lopez was in charge as he bolted immediately, maintaining the plan to push at the limit from the off. That gave him enough advantage to dive in to take his Long Lap penalty and still emerge in the lead, and then he was gone.
After a crash out of podium contention for Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) fading back from the podium fight, the battle between Acosta and Fernandez was heating up. The rookie was ahead when his teammate suddenly slid out, losing the front and with it chance to create quite a gap. But rider ok and ultimately only losing four points.
Dixon gained the podium with that, but after having put in quite a comeback to slice through the pack from well outside the top ten. Behind him, Aldeguer held off an impressive charge from Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), with Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) for close company. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Canet and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) completed the top ten ahead of Ogura.
After that drama on race day for Fernandez, Ogura now has chance to take the crown in Malaysia… but it’s only 3.5 points the Japanese rider in hand, and it looks like the battle may well go all the way to the wire. Tune in for the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia next weekend for another twist in the tale!
2022 Australian Moto2 Results
1 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Bos) |
1:36.804 |
2 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Kal) |
+ 3.556 |
3 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 9.583 |
4 |
Fermín Aldeguer |
(Bos) |
+ 15.745 |
5 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Kal) |
+ 15.775 |
Moto3
Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) attacked and pulled away in style on the last lap of the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, taking another impressive victory and with it, this time, the 2022 Moto3™ World Championship. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) got back on the podium in second, ahead of Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) as the number 11 ceded the crown but got back on the rostrum.
Garcia took the early lead as polesitter Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) lost a couple of positions from pole, but all eyes were on Guevara as the Championship leader had some distance to make up from Row 3. He got that done quickly though, slotting into a top six joined by Garcia, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), Sasaki, Öncü and home hero Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power). Bit by bit two riders on the chase were able to close in, too: John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team).
By 10 to go, four remained in the front group as Guevara, Sasaki, Öncü and Garcia pulled away, and there they stayed. On the start of the last lap, it was Öncü ahead over the line, but that didn’t last long as Guevara hit back to take the lead. From there, the number 28 got the hammer down and kept a few precious metres in hand to take what’s fast becoming a signature win, sealing the Championship in the process.
Sasaki was forced to settle for fourth, ahead of a tight group of Nepa, McPhee, Moreira and Kelso. Moreira and Kelso were separated by just 0.001, with video verification deployed.
Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) headed up the next group after a tougher race for the Italian, who has fallen back to third overall, with Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top ten. Close behind them in the group came David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) and front row starter Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team).
2022 Australian Moto3 Results
1 |
Izan Guevara |
(GASGAS) |
1:36.804 |
2 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.345 |
3 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.460 |
4 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Hus) |
+ 0.560 |
5 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+ 7.428 |
2022 Australian MotoGP News—Saturday
Local wildlife causing trouble
Along with its fabulous long, open bends and stunning sea views, Phillip Island has gained notoriety over the years for another thing: wildlife. Seagulls have been a constant menace at this track since the late 80s, but wildlife of another form has appeared this weekend.
A wallaby ran across the track in front of Aleix Espargaro during MotoGP FP1 while both Moto3 FP3 and Moto2 qualifying were prematurely red flagged due to geese nonchalantly crossing the track. For Espargaro, this situation was unacceptable and brought the matter up in Friday’s Safety Commission meeting.
“At the beginning everybody was laughing because I understand it could be fun. But they understood it was a very, very important thing in terms of safety. For me is unacceptable. It was very dangerous. We ask for them to improve, to close a bit better the track (with higher perimeter fencing).”
‘Miller corner’
Phillip Island’s turn four hairpin has been renamed ‘Miller Corner’ in a ceremony on Saturday that celebrated home hero Jack Miller’s recent achievements. An almost sheepish Miller, who comes to his home race still in title contention, stated he felt he wasn’t “worthy” of the honor.
“It was pretty surreal,” said the modest Australian. “That was an amazing gesture. I’m definitely not worthy of it, but I’ll take it. It’s awesome to be stamped on this amazing track. I was back in on the bike after the ceremony and I was crying. It’s a real honour and still hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
“For them to recognize what I do for motorcycle racing, what I’m about, I’m about promoting motorcycle racing in the most positive way I can. I love this sport, I love everything about it. It shows. If you can be a nice guy and go fast from time to time then it definitely pays off.”
Suzuki test ‘makes no sense’
The idea of testing when a project has just two races left to run seems futile. Yet that is exactly what Suzuki plans to do next week before the factory’s time in MotoGP comes to an end. The test team and test rider Takuya Tsuda will try a handful of parts, even though Valencia will mark its departure from the premier class after eight straight years of premier class competition.
Even riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins were surprised by the news. “They will test before Malaysia,” said an exasperated Rins. “A totally new fairing and completely different to what we are using here with a different intake and different wings. If you ask me why then I have no idea, it makes no sense. But let them spend the money.”
Saturday
MotoGP
Since 2013, MotoGP Legend Jorge Lorenzo has been the fastest rider ever to lap Phillip Island, but no more. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is the new all-time lap record holder at the Australian track, and by a mere smidge as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) missed out by just 0.013. The number 93 also had a helping tow from Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two lapped in tandem, with Pecco just pipped to it but still completing the front row.
Martin had been on the pace as soon as Q2 started, punching out a 1:28.112 out the gate – the fastest lap of the weekend to that point. He would hold onto that honor for just a lap as Bagnaia clocked a 1:28.054 next time through, and they were the top two at the end of the opening runs, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) third on a 1:28.174. Marc Marquez sat fifth on a 1:28.313, having been forced into one of his trademark front-end saves exiting ‘MG’ on his second flying lap which saw him veer onto the grass.
With the second runs on in earnest, Johann Zarco jumped to the top with a 1:28.007 before Martin made it a Prima Pramac Racing one-two with the first lap of Phillip Island that was quicker than Lorenzo’s 1:27.899 in 2013.
Marquez then tagged on behind Bagnaia for the final few minutes of the session, and with the chequered flag about to come out, the number 63 moved up to second on a 1:27.953 but was beaten almost immediately by the Honda rider in his slipstream, who set a 1:27.780. That made for a top four of Martin, Marc Marquez, Bagnaia, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), with Quartararo edging back up to fifth thanks to a 1:27.973 on his final lap.
When all’s said and done, Bagnaia is the first of the title contenders as a few stack up from third back, with Aleix Espargaro heading Row 2 in fourth and Championship leader Quartararo right alongside. Quartararo was the final rider in the 1:27s, with Zarco just into the 1:28 bracket. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) slots into seventh.
It was a tougher session for Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he’ll start eighth – although he did win from seventh at Motegi. For fellow challenger Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) it was an even tougher one, however, as the number 23 was in Q1 and then failed to make the cut – after also getting held up by Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The Portuguese rider did a practice start too early and then was slow on the line, gaining a three-place grid penalty and a Long Lap.
Zarco was the quickest in Q1 and moved through alongside Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as the two pipped Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) late in the session. The latter duo therefore line up P13 and P14.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) starts ninth as he joins Marini and Miller on an all-Ducati Row 3, with Rins forced to settle for tenth ahead of automatic Q2 graduate Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol).
Qualifying didn’t go to plan for Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and he’ll start P12. After topping the timesheets in FP4, ‘Top Gun’ will certainly be ready to move forward on race day.
2022 Australian MotoGP Results—Saturday
1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
1:27.767 |
2 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.013 |
3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.186 |
4 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.190 |
5 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.206 |
6 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.240 |
7 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.262 |
8 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.349 |
9 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Duc) |
+ 0.418 |
10 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.774 |
Moto2
Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) set a stunning new lap record at Phillip Island on Saturday as a 1:32.233 puts him on pole for the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) missed out by just 0.073, with Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) in third making it both Boscoscuros on the front row.
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), who trails Fernandez by just 1.5 points in the Championship, has qualified 13th after a tougher weekend so far, although the Japanese rider won from the same position at Motegi.
Buriram winner Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) heads the second row ahead of Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40), with Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in sixth.
Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) is an impressive seventh on an all-rookie Row 3, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) alongside.
The remaining riders between Fernandez and Ogura are Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™), in 10th fresh from his first intermediate class podium, Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) in a solid P11 and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) in P12. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is just behind Ogura, in P14 after a tougher Saturday.
2022 Australian Moto2 Results—Saturday
1 |
Fermín Aldeguer |
(Bos) |
1:32.233 |
2 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.073 |
3 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Bos) |
+ 0.310 |
4 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.488 |
5 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 0.604 |
11 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 0.773 |
15 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 1.051 |
21 |
Sean Dylan Kelly (Q1) |
(Kal) |
+ 0.612 |
Moto3
Another week, another new lap record! This time it’s Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) as the number 71 backed up his fastest lap on Friday with the fastest lap of Phillip Island ever, taking pole by nearly two tenths and putting in the only 1:35. Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) is the only other rider in Sasaki’s postcode, and he has a half-second gap behind him back to Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) as the rookie completes the front row.
Championship leader Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) heads up Row 3 in seventh place, giving him a reasonable launch position ahead of his first match point in the fight for the crown. He has an advantage of 49 points and needs more than 50 by the flag on Sunday to secure the Championship. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), now his closest challenger, lines up in P12 on Row 4 – his equal worst result of the season as he failed to improve late on.
Row 2 is Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP), Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team). Between Guevara in seventh and Foggia in 12th are Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) – for whom it’s a best ever qualifying – and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports). In the session, one dash of spice saw Muñoz get a behavior warning for getting a little close to Masia, too.
2022 Australian Moto3 Results—Saturday
1 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Hus) |
1:35.854 |
2 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.187 |
3 |
Ivan Ortola |
(Kal) |
+ 0.725 |
4 |
Carlos Tatay |
(CFMoto) |
+ 0.817 |
5 |
Diogo Moreira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.826 |
2022 Australian MotoGP News—Friday
Riders to communicate via buttons
MotoGP riders could well indicate whether they feel a session or race should be red flagged by pressing a button on their handlebar in the future. Conditions on Friday were “on the limit” due to high winds, according to Luca Marini. And in future, riders have suggested in the Safety Commission the best way to signal conditions are too bad to continue riding would be to communicate to Race Direction via a button on their handlebar.
The Italian explained, “If it’s on the limit riding in this situation. But every time we wait for a crash to have a red flag. We don’t try to avoid this problem. IRTA, Dorna, or Race Direction, when they need to take this kind of decision, it’s not an easy job for them. Because they are not on track, they are here, and from here you don’t feel the wind. So we are asking to them, also in the Safety Commission, to have like a button to push and maybe if 80% of the grid pushes this button, also in a race for example, they can have a red flag. To just send more information. Because if you look at the race from the TV, you don’t see anything.”
Honda’s aero updates
Marc Marquez debuted a new aerodynamic package on Friday. His Honda featured Ducati-esque pods as well as fins on his seat unit, which again resembled Bologna’s inventions.
Due to his enforced absence mid-season due to injury, the Catalan had yet to use his one allocated aero update this year. After sampling a revised aero at the Misano test in September, the 29-year old tried further evolutions here and was willing to use Friday as a day to test the new package.
“We already tried this kind of concept a bit in Misano and I already feel some positive points but in that moment we decide to not homologate because like this Honda had the chance to keep working and have another evolution. And it’s what I receive here, this evolution in the front, in the bottom area plus the rear.
“But looks like less physical on this circuit, so for me here helps. With the current aerodynamics I was able to be fast also in FP1, the best lap I did was with the current ones. In FP2, concentrate more on the new ones. So with both ones some positive and negative.”
Paddock comes to terms with Victor Steeman’s death
The paddock reconvened in Australia a day after World Supersport 300 rider Victor Steeman succumbed to injuries sustained in a collision at the previous weekend in Portugal – the fourth death of a rider aged 22 or younger in 16 months. It reopened the debate on what motorcycle racing can do to eradicate this alarming surge in racing fatalities.
Maverick Viñales, who lost cousin Dean Berta in a World Supersport 300 race last year at Jerez, flatly stated the machines used in that class are at fault. “I always had the same opinion about the Supersport 300,” said the Aprilia man. “And I say it before it happened with Dean, before many things, that these kind of categories with the bikes of 180kg that can ride 140kph maximum on the straight, this is useless for a rider. Useless. You don’t learn nothing.
“I remember when I was a kid, I need to ride a 125GP that [if] you were not talented it was impossible to win or to follow the good guys. I remember I arrived here in the World Championship, first time I tried to follow someone, highsided. First time. So I learned a lesson.
“But in this moment, also Moto3, yeah you see some riders, but they go all together. It wasn’t like this in the past. It wasn’t like this and the talent was more than if the bike is a bit faster or slower. And for me the Supersport 300, the problem is that the bikes are 160 kilos, no speed, they go 30 all together. And of course if someone crashes in the front, for you is impossible to escape.”
Friday
MotoGP
Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) doubled up on Friday Down Under, fastest in both FP1 and FP2 – but it was incredibly close by the end of play. The Frenchman leads on the combined timesheets by just 0.038 from rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) completing the top three and still within 0.052 of the top.
So where are the title challengers? Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was fourth and within a tenth of the 44, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) seventh, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) eighth and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) ninth. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was P13 on Day 1 and will be the first looking for a lot more from a flier on Saturday.
There were four different manufacturers in the top five as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was just behind Quartararo, the number 12 starting off strong at a venue he’s ruled before. The gap between Quartararo and Viñales, 0.131, is the only gap in the top 18 that’s bigger than a single tenth.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in P6 makes a pair of Hondas in the top ten, and the number 93 was also seen out on track trying out some new aero – a new add-on to the tail unit in FP1 and then a new aero body in the afternoon.
Marc Marquez, Viñales, Quartararo was how the top three sat ahead of the time attacks, with Aleix Espargaro in the danger zone in 10th and Bagnaia one position outside the provisional Q2 cut-off. With cool conditions expected on Saturday morning, the stakes were high and lap times started to tumble again, with Bezzecchi, Viñales and Quartararo all taking turns at the top. Bezzecchi had been shuffled back to sixth when he fired in a 1:29.513 to go fastest again in the final minute, but that was bettered by Zarco by 0.038 seconds just before the chequered flag.
As it stands, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is the first to miss the Q2 cut in P11, just ahead of the returning Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – just meaning 0.021.
2022 Australian MotoGP Results—Friday
1 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
1:29.475 |
2 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Duc) |
+ 0.038 |
3 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 0.052 |
4 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.139 |
5 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Apr) |
+ 0.270 |
6 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.300 |
7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.357 |
8 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.363 |
9 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.374 |
10 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.406 |
Moto2
Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) dominated Friday in Australia, pulling out nearly four tenths ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp), with the Boscoscuro duo completing the top three. Lopez, however, was also given a Long Lap for the race after causing a crash in FP1 with Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).
Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped FP1, and he ends the day in P7 overall – with key rival Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) struggling to P17 on Friday.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was fourth quickest, ahead of a fast Friday for Sam Lowe (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) as the Brit continues his comeback from injury. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) slots into sixth ahead of Fernandez. Buriram podium finisher Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™) was eighth, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) completing the top ten, the former despite a crash in FP2, rider ok.
2022 Australian Moto2 Results—Friday
1 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
1:33.767 |
2 |
Fermín Aldeguer |
(Bos) |
+ 0.382 |
3 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Bos) |
+ 0.461 |
4 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.741 |
5 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.777 |
13 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 1.295 |
26 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
+2.343 |
Moto3
It was a Japanese 1-2 on Friday last time out and it’s the same as the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix gets in gear. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was quickest by 0.189 ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), with rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) impressing in third on his debut at The Island – after also topping FP1.
As conditions improved, in FP2 every single rider also improved their time significantly by the end of the session. Behind Sasaki and Suzuki there were a few tenths back to Moreira, but then it tightened up again and it’s Championship leader Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) who ends the day in fourth – despite a crash in FP1.
Still, he’s only 0.025 ahead of teammate Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) is close behind in sixth as they, and Sasaki, look to stop Guevara taking the crown. The number 28 is 49 points clear and needs more than 50 in hand by the flag to secure the title.
Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) complete the top ten… and Fernandez has a double Long Lap to take this weekend for his part in a crash in Buriram.
2022 Australian Moto3 Results—Friday
1 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Hus) |
1:37.797 |
2 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.189 |
3 |
Diogo Moreira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.408 |
4 |
Izan Guevara |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.533 |
5 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.558 |
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