2024 Australian MotoGP News and Results

Cycle News Staff | October 20, 2024

Sunday MotoGP Race

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) went toe-to-toe at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, escaping to create a private showdown at front and duelling through the final four laps – split by less than a second over the line. Marquez came out on top despite dropping back after a nightmare start, with the #93 stalking the #89 through the latter stages before making his attack and making it stick. In the title fight, Martin’s second place nevertheless sees him increase his lead by four points, with key rival and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the podium at a distance on Sunday.

The drama was immediate as Marquez’ rear wheel spun up a cloud of smoke off the line, a tear off trapped under the rear tyre which was then unceremoniously ejected as he dropped the clutch. That allowed the Gresini machine to quickly take off and slot back into the fight, but the kerfuffle – and a great start from the #89 – saw Martin streak away to take the holeshot ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with Bagnaia up into third early on as he threaded the needle past Marquez’ drama. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) was in P4, with another stunning launch from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the South African into fifth from P11 on the grid.

2024 Australian MotoGP News and Results — **After a shocking start in whuch his tear-off went under his rear wheel, Marquez (93) produced one of his finest rides to take the Australian MotoGP race win.**

Behind, in no time at all Marquez was somehow already attacking Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) to move back into sixth, and after a tango at Turn 4 the #93 made it through. From there, he was on a mission. Next was Binder, and the gap to the South African was gone in a couple of laps. Then it was Morbidelli and with 22 to go into Turn 1, Marquez was through and into the podium places. Now, the clear air to his 2025 teammate was the target as the #1 continued to hold race leader Martin within around half a second.

By 16 to go, a small mistake from the Championship leader made it a six-wheeler at the front, the three machines glued together: Martin, Bagnaia and Marquez. Bagnaia wasted no time as he attacked at Turn 3 and made it through, but Martin hit back at Turn 4. That opened the door enough for Marquez to head through too, resetting it to Martin – Marquez – Bagnaia in that order at the front.

With 13 to go, the #1 and the #93 set identical laps, and less than a tenth off race leader Martin. With all on the soft tyre and plenty of kilometers to go, the chess game seemed out in full force but the Jaws music was starting to fade in from Marquez. Next time round, he was right on the back of the Pramac ahead. 10 laps to go, two tenths between two riders, and one second back to the reigning Champion. Then 1.9. It was becoming a duel Down Under, and the tension simmered away lap by lap before a final four to remember.

Four to go, Martin left the door just enough ajar at Turn 4 and there was no second invitation needed as Marquez sliced past. Into Turn 1 with three to go, Martin returned the favour. At Turn 4, Marquez did the same once more, and sent both just wide enough for the gloves to now clearly be off. No contact, and they just about stayed on track away from the green, but it was a lunge. If it was designed to create some metres of clear air in the lead it didn’t quite work as they stayed stuck together split by 0.111 over the line, but the #93 was now hammer down.

This time at Turn 1, there was no gap. Martin tried to make one at Turn 2 but no dice, and around three Marquez started to make some metres. By the start of the final lap, the #93 was half a second clear, and gaining himself just enough breathing space to call that a third win of the year.

Bagnaia couldn’t quite find enough to go with the duo in the lead once they’d broken away, but kept it tidy in third for a very valuable 16-point haul, keeping the deficit at 20 points with a maximum of 111 still to race for.

In the fight behind the podium, Bastianini dropped back before picking his way forward again, with Binder, Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) for company in a tight fight. By the flag though it was two duels. Diggia took fourth from Bastianini by three tenths, and behind them it was a near photo-finish for sixth as Morbidelli and Binder crossed the line split by just 0.016. Viñales was forced to settle for eighth.

Another group fought it out behind that one, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) rising to the fore there. The Frenchman stormed up from P18 on the grid to take ninth and another top ten, denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Energy MotoGP™). Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) had another solid day to take more points in P14, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) taking the final point after the #73 had headed well wide at Turn 1 and served his Long Lap for his collision with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) in Japan.

Mir slid out on Sunday, and Bezzecchi crashed early after completing his Long Lap for his incident with Viñales in the Tissot Sprint. He remounted but at the back of the pack. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) didn’t start after being declared unfit on Sunday morning due to shoulder trauma incurred on Saturday.

After the drama, the weather, the well-calculated lunges and high-speed chess, that’s a wrap on Phillip Island. The Championship top two are now split by 20 points, with Marquez still just about hanging on as a contender for the crown and Bastianini now at a real last chance saloon in Buriram.

2024 Australian MotoGP Results—Sunday MotoGP Race

1	Marc Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)
2	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+0.997
3	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+10.100
4	Fabio Di Giannantonio	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+12.997
5	Enea Bastianini	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+13.310
6	Franco Morbidelli	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+15.434
7	Brad Binder	(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)	+15.450
8	Maverick Viñales	(Aprilia Racing)	+16.636
9	Fabio Quartararo	(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)	+18.757
10	Raul Fernandez	(Trackhouse Racing)	+19.345

Moto2 Race

A Moto2™ last-lap battle for the ages? You bet. Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) with a Turn 10 move to see the Spaniard stand on the top step of the rostrum for the first time since the German GP as the compatriots treated us to a belter. What’s more, third place went the way of home hero Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Australian earned a debut Grand Prix podium in front of his adoring Phillip Island fans, while Championship leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) strengthened his grip on the title with a P4 finish.

A lead quartet rapidly formed at the front as Aldeguer, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp), Canet and Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) broke clear in the opening laps, before Gonzalez’s Long Lap penalty saw him drop into the clutches of the chasing pack that was led by title-hunting Ogura.

By Lap 10, the leading trio were 4.3s clear of Ogura, local favourite Agius, Gonzalez and Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) but at the same time, Aldeguer was beginning to pull the pin. 0.6s was the Spaniard’s advantage over Canet, but with limited dry track time over the weekend, there was a long way to go and tyre life would be crucial.

The battle for P4 was bubbling up nicely too. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) made it a six-rider scrap, with Agius holding P4 with 11 laps left.

With eight laps to go, Lopez had lost touch and it was now between Aldeguer and Canet for the win. 0.6s was the gap between the duo and both were lapping consistently in the 1:30s, a good four tenths faster than anyone else on circuit. Then, with seven laps to go, Canet carved past at Turn 10 to lead.

Four to go. There was nothing to split Canet and Aldeguer, and it was as you were with three laps remaining. However, at Turn 4 on Lap 21 of 23, Canet was wide to allow Aldeguer through. Then, four seconds later, Lopez was down at the same corner! This promoted Agius to P3 and with less than three laps to go, an Australian was on the podium in Phillip Island.

Last lap time! Aldeguer held a 0.3s lead over Canet and Agius was 1.2s ahead of Ogura in the race for a rostrum. From miles back, Canet lunged at Turn 4 and made a move stick. How would Aldeguer respond? The answer came at Turn 10. Aldeguer was late on the anchors and parked it up the inside of Canet, as contact – minimal though – was made when the latter tried closing the door. Both were wide. It was harsh, but it was fair. Aldeguer made it stick and held it on the run to the line to win by 0.194s as rookie Agius claimed a dream debut podium – and there’s no better place to do it too. What a ride from the #81.

Further back, Ogura’s P4 sees the Japanese rider extend his Championship lead to 65 ahead of a date with Thailand, where a top five finish will see him collect the 2024 Moto2™ crown. Ogura pipped Moreira on the run to the line by 0.012s to see the Brazilian finish P5, as Gonzalez won the battle for P6 between himself, seventh place Baltus and eighth place Arbolino.

Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) now sits P4 in the overall standings after his P9 finish in Australia as Canet and Aldeguer leapfrog their compatriot. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) rounded out the top 10, with Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2™), Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Mario Aji (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) complete the points in Phillip Island.

2024 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto2 Race

1	Fermin Aldeguer	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)
2	Aron Canet	(Fantic Racing)	+0.194
3	Senna Agius	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+7.228
4	Ai Ogura	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+8.385
5	Diogo Moreira	(Italtrans Racing Team)	+8.397
6	Manuel Gonzalez	(Gresini Moto2™)	+10.742
7	Barry Baltus	(RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP)	+10.775
8	Tony Arbolino	(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)	+17.343
9	Sergio Garcia	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+17.591
10	Marcos Ramirez	(OnlyFans American Racing Team)	+17.721

Moto3 Race

Another race, another David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) masterclass. The 2024 World Champion broke clear in the closing stages to win for the 11th time this season, which draws the #80 level with Valentino Rossi’s lightweight class single-season victory record with three races to go – and there was a special throwback celebration to go with it too. 2.9s back, a ferocious fight for the final two podium spots played out and it was a battle that was won by Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) as the Spaniard beat third place Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) by 0.003s.

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) got a magical launch from pole position and easily collected the holeshot into Doohan Corner but Turn 2 saw David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) carve his way into P1. Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) then demoted Ortola to P3 at Turn 4, as home hero Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) made a lively start to get stuck into the podium mix from Lap 1.

On Lap 2, Nepa led but the Italian dived into the Long Lap penalty loop – the first of two – which handed Kelso the lead. But, as expected, the lead changed at a rapid rate of knots as the top 13 were suddenly separated by 1.4s – and that became the top 14 as Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) joined the party.

A couple of laps later, it became a front group of 17. Nepa had completed his two Long Lap penalties and was part of the podium scrap, as Kelso – after contact in the group – dropped to the back of the pack in P17.

With 10 to go, two of the top four in the World Championship then crashed together at Turn 4. Ortola and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were down after the Dutch rider clipped Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), which saw him crash and collect Ortola. Both riders were OK, but that’s a dent in their hopes of claiming P2 in the World Championship.

That left us with a 30-wheeler fight at the front heading into the final eight laps. Plenty of jostling continued in the following laps as Alonso led the way with four laps remaining, and the group was beginning to stretch. The top four – Alonso, Muñoz, Fernandez and Holgado – were 1.3s up the road from the chasers, so it looked like it was a four-way fight for the win. Or was it? Because now, Alonso was 0.6s up the road on the harder rear tyre.

The World Champion had checked out. Heading onto the final lap, Alonso was 1.7s clear as a fierce fight for second unravelled. It was Fernandez from Muñoz and Holgado heading onto the home straight, with Nepa and a few others not far behind either, and it was a drag race won by Holgado by 0.003s. Fernandez held onto P3 by 0.018s, the impressive Nepa pinched P4 as Muñoz slipped to P5. But the plaudits, once again, went the way of the incredible Alonso. 11 wins in a season match Valentino Rossi’s 1997 lightweight class record, as the Colombian also becomes the first rider to win four lightweight class races in a row since Marc Marquez. Those aren’t bad names to etch your name alongside, are they?

Elsewhere, Yamanaka collected P6 ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and 10th place Piqueras, as Kelso had to settle for P11 on home turf. Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) was 12th ahead of the second local hero Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) as the rookie picked up Phillip Island points. Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were the final points scorers in Australia.

2024 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto3 Race

1	David Alonso	(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team)
2	Daniel Holgado	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+2.936
3	Adrian Fernandez	(Leopard Racing)	+2.939
4	Stefano Nepa	(LEVELUP – MTA)	+2.957
5	David Muñoz	(BOE Motorsports)	+2.972
6	Ryusei Yamanaka	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+3.377
7	Taiyo Furusato	(Honda Team Asia)	+3.403
8	Luca Lunetta	(SIC58 Squadra Corse)	+3.886
9	Jose Antonio Rueda	(Red Bull KTM Ajo)	+3.908
10	Angel Piqueras	(Leopard Racing)	+3.943

2024 Australian MotoGP News—Saturday

Bezzecchi – Viñales smash

Maverick Viñales and Marco Bezzecchi were involved in an ugly collision at 140mph entering Turn 1 in the Sprint. Despite a sickening roll through the gravel, the Italian suffered no fractures but was still taken to hospital in Melbourne for further checks.

Marc Marquez, who endured a similar collision at the same spot in 2018 with Johann Zarco, felt it was a racing incident and felt the heavy gusts of wind at Turn 1 were a factor. “It’s a racing incident. Because in that point I remember the same situation. I overtook Zarco with the slipstream and in that moment the wind pushed me out, and you don’t want to go in the middle because you know if you go in front of the guy you are overtaking the slipstream is sucking him in. Today when the wind was pushing laterally, Viñales could avoid that movement and Bezzecchi could avoid getting sucked in.”

Viñales rejected the idea. “I am aware that in this corner when you overtake to leave the rider some metres because if he wants to come back because of the slipstream,” he said. “But in my point of view (Bezzecchi was trying) to overtake me again.”

Diggia’s change of plan

Fabio Di Giannantonio will curtail his season two races early to address the nagging left shoulder injury, sustained in mid-August. The Italian will undergo surgery as he seeks a compromise between competing in as many races as possible this year, while returning fully fit for the start of next season in early March.

“It’s not fantastic for me because it’s never good to miss races. It’s never good to finish the season a bit earlier than the others and. But at the same time is I think it’s good for next year that is an important year for us to arrive as ready as possible and try to be 100% in terms of physical form.”

Manu Gonzalez present in Australia

Manuel Gonzalez was in Australia despite the controversy that hung over his maiden Grand Prix win in Japan. Reports surfaced in the week prior that the Spaniard had lost his seat after his Gresini Team’s chief sponsor QJMOTOR, a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, demanded his sacking as he donned a hachimaki (Japanese headband) on the grid.

Gonzalez revealed the headband was given to him by a Japanese fan over the weekend and he wore it as a sign of gratitude. He also insisted QJMOTOR had not issued any instructions to the team or riders to not adorn anything with Japanese symbolism, as CFMOTO had instructed the Aspar team.

Instead, an official Gresini team statement read, QJMOTOR and Gresini Racing are now running a positive discussion and it is expected everything will be solved very soon.” Its Moto2 bikes were stripped of QJMOTOR signage, which the statement argued, was “a form of respect towards China … Gresini Racing Moto2 Team will race unbranded the remaining four rounds of the current season.”

Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has extended his title advantage at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after a stunning Tissot Sprint performance. The #89 started from pole and set a relentless pace, crossing the line clear of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who recovered to second after a tough start. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed the final spot on the Tissot Sprint podium after a fantastic ride from 10th on the grid. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took fourth and now has a 16-point deficit to Martin in the Championship.

Martin claiming the perfect launch from pole, storming into the lead on the run to Turn 1. The #89 was leading with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Bagnaia in chase after the reigning World Champion secured a fantastic launch from P5 on the grid, too.

It was a tough start to the Sprint for Marc Marquez, dropping to eighth after the #93 ran wide at Turn 1. However, the eight-time World Champion began to claw back time, carving past Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), picking off Bastianini and a fast-starting Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for P4.

Martin put the hammer down early, stretching a one-second lead to Bezzecchi, who was now coming under under immense pressure from Bagnaia. The #1 made the move stick on Lap 4, slicing up into second while Bezzecchi was soon under pressure from the hard-charging Marc Marquez.

Positions continued to change, with Bezzecchi demoted to fourth as Marc Marquez moved up to set his sights on Bagnaia. The gap reduced through every sector before the #93 pounced on Lap 8. After that, Bagnaia was unable to match the pace and soon dropped to fourth, with Bastianini finding a gap in his teammate’s armour and muscling his way past too.

Meanwhile, Bezzecchi and Viñales continued an intense battle for fifth, with the #12 overtaking the Italian at the start of Lap 12. However, everything came undone at Turn 1 as Bezzecchi and Viñales collided into the braking area, both riders sliding off into the gravel in a plume of dust. Viñales was passed fit and Bezzecchi had no fractures, but the Italian is undergoing a full check in Melbourne. When he returns, a hearing will be held as the incident remains under investigation.

In a very different crash but another bout of drama, Binder’s hopes of points were then also lost moments later as the South African lost the front at Turn 4.

Back at the front though, nobody could match Martin’s pace in the closing stages of the Sprint. The #89 crossed the line with a 1.520s advantage over the charging Marc Marquez, who crossed the line in second and crucially ahead of Bastianini as the battle for third in the Championship continues. They also both just stay in contention, mathematically.

Bagnaia crossed the line in fourth spot with some pace still to find for Sunday after losing further points to title rival Martin. Meanwhile, Morbidelli secured a positive fifth place finish, crossing the line ahead of a best Sprint result for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who capped off a confidence-boosting Saturday after bagging sixth ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). The #49 was demoted to seventh after receiving an eight-second time penalty due to running tyre pressures lower than the advised parameters.

Further back, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was eighth in a strong result for the #41 as the final point of the day went the way of Augusto Fernandez, who finished as the sole Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rider after rookie teammate Pedro Acosta suffered a highside, rider ok but to be reviewed ahead of the race. Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) just missed out on a point but continues his best weekend yet for Honda.

Drama sadly struck for Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), crashing on Lap 8 to the disappointment of the Australian crowd, and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also slid out of the Sprint, riders ok.

2024 Australian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race

1	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)
2	Marc Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+1.520
3	Enea Bastianini	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+4.368
4	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+6.879
5	Franco Morbidelli	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+9.623
6	Raul Fernandez	(Trackhouse Racing)	+15.249
7	Fabio Di Giannantonio	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+15.905
8	Aleix Espargaro	(Aprilia Racing)	+19.280
9	Augusto Fernandez	(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)	+21.126
10	Luca Marini	(Repsol Honda Team)	+21.194

Moto2 Qualifying

For the first time since the Dutch GP, Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) claimed pole position – and in some fashion too. A final lap stormer on the Island saw the Spaniard set a scintillating new all-time lap record, a 1:30.876, to beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.196s as third place goes the way of Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp).

Fourth place Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) missed out on a front row start by just 0.024s, and the Spaniard is joined on the second row by Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) and Japanese GP winner Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™).

World Championship leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) will launch from P9 as he aims to stand on the podium on Sunday to give him a chance to clinch the 2024 crown in Australia.

Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) has been ruled out of action after the American suffered a broken scaphoid in a Practice 2 crash.

2024 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying

1	Fermin Aldeguer	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	1:30.876
2	Aron Canet	(Fantic Racing)	+0.196
3	Alonso Lopez	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	+0.268
4	Marcos Ramirez	(OnlyFans American Racing Team)	+0.292
5	Barry Baltus	(RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP)	+0.537
6	Manuel Gonzalez	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.544
7	Diogo Moreira	(Italtrans Racing Team)	+0.550
8	Albert Arenas	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.576
9	Ai Ogura	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.579
10	Jake Dixon	(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team)	+0.700

Moto3 Qualifying

For the third weekend in a row, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) will launch from pole position after a very late 1:35.872 handed the #48 a Saturday afternoon P1 at Phillip Island. The fight for the front row went down to the wire as both Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) – despite a crash – and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) left it until their final flying laps to earn from row starts in P2 and P3.

David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) was on provisional pole as the chequered flag waved but the #44 was shoved back to P4 by the end of the session. The Spaniard is joined on the second row by Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing), who bags his best qualifying result of the season in fifth, and sixth place Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA).

Home hero Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) will launch from P7 despite sitting in P1 in the closing stages of Q2, with the Aussie having Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) for company on Row 3.

2024 World Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) will start P10, while the other Moto3™ Australian, Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), came through Q1 to claim P13 – one place ahead of teammate Daniel Holgado.

2024 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying

1	Ivan Ortola	(MT Helmets – MSI)	1:35.872
2	Collin Veijer	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+0.124
3	Adrian Fernandez	(Leopard Racing)	+0.151
4	David Muñoz	(BOE Motorsports)	+0.329
5	Scott Ogden	(FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing)	+0.403
6	Stefano Nepa	(LEVELUP – MTA)	+0.488
7	Joel Kelso	(BOE Motorsports)	+0.494
8	Angel Piqueras	(Leopard Racing)	+0.551
9	Taiyo Furusato	(Honda Team Asia)	+0.615
10	David Alonso	(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team)	+0.730

2024 Australian MotoGP News—Friday

Martin: He knows he can win

Several riders reflected on championship leader Jorge Martin on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix. The Spaniard arrived to Round 17 with a ten-point advantage, which led friend and mentor Aleix Espargaro to comment on the changes he’s made for 2024 compared to the previous year.

“Last year he was obviously quite nervous,” said the Aprilia man. “We, as humans, try to learn and he got some experience from last season and tried to have more fun. This year here he is in the house with me and his girlfriend, so trying not to be super-super focused because last year I think he tried to be too much on the job and sometimes it’s worse. I see him this year having more fun and more relaxed.”

Pecco Bagnaia said, “What I think he has improved is that he knows he can win, he knows he can be competitive. So this makes a huge difference. It’s the biggest difference I felt when I won the first race in MotoGP and the first time I fought for the championship in 2021. This makes a huge change.”

New track surface gets thumbs up

The new track surface which caused mayhem at the World Superbike round in February was trialed by MotoGP for the first time on Friday afternoon.

It received positive feedback, despite bumps being persistent in the final sector. “It looks like there were bumps also before,” said Luca Marini. “But now with the new tarmac there are the same bumps but even more in different places.

“So, Turn 1 is a disaster, Turn 2 is also difficult. Then there are some patches and a different type of tarmac on the ground between 11 and 12 that cause a bit of problems. I think they made a decent job with this new tarmac. We cannot complain so much. Bumps are part of the characteristic of the track.”

Wildlife makes appearance

Play was stopped twice on Friday by flocks of geese walking across the Phillip Island track at Turn 8. Both Moto2 P1 and MotoGP Practice was red flagged due to the wildlife interruptions, which caused concern in Aleix Espargaro’s camp.

“For me it is very difficult to understand that this is happening,” he said. “It is mind-blowing. I don’t know how this is happening here. But it is year-by-year. Hopefully nothing heavy will happen.”

Jorge Martin just missed a rabbit, which ran across the track just in front of him in the afternoon. “For sure a lot of wildlife here on Phillip Island. This will be interesting for Sunday, or even for tomorrow. If we have some animals at the end of the race maybe it’s stopped. It’s important to always be in a good position.”

Friday MotoGP

After a washout in FP1, thankfully the weather gods played nicely in the afternoon to allow the MotoGP™ riders a full 60 minutes of dry running around the phenomenal Phillip Island. And leading the way into Saturday will be Marc Marquez, who beat brother and Gresini Racing MotoGP™ teammate Alex Marquez by 0.102s, as Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) made it a Ducati GP23 1-2-3 on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) ended Day 1 in P4 and P5 to sail safely into Q2, but it’s not the same story for Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the Italian will need to wade through Q1 after ending Practice in P16.

With more rain potentially on the horizon and the asphalt – for the time being – dry, full attack mode was engaged right from the off in the 60-minute stint. And there was also early drama for the World Championship leader. Martin tucked the front at Turn 4 after nearly running into the back of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). It was a small tip-off for the #89, but would it prove costly?

After 15 minutes, Pecco and Martin both hadn’t set a time. Marc Marquez was the session pacesetter after the #93 set a 1:29.020 before a brief red-flag stoppage was had after some overly keen spectators (geese to be precise) decided to have a wander onto the circuit.

A minute later, we were back underway. The top three in the Championship were outside the top 10 with Bastianini in P11 and both Pecco and Martin still yet to set a time. The title-chasing duo needed to wriggle on and on their first attempts, Martin climbed to P9 and Pecco went to P16. 90 seconds later, Martin was up to second, 0.2s away from Marquez’s time, with Pecco improving but only to P13.

Meanwhile, Bastianini jumped to P3 with 36 minutes to go, with Pecco now in the top 10 – but only just. That didn’t last long though because with the rain holding off, riders were finding time. That included home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who shot to P1 by nearly three tenths thanks to a 1:28.731.

Around 10 minutes later, Marquez returned to the timesheet summit with a 1:28.454. Elsewhere, Bagnaia was back out and the #1 was now up to P6 before that became P4 a lap later, but with the rain still staying away, the closing 20 minutes were getting busy.

Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) was having a strong session as the Frenchman went P2 with 13 minutes to go before Viñales set the new fastest lap of the day. Miller climbed back up the order to P3 and now, Bagnaia was in P11 with 10 minutes to go. That was then P8, but a 1:28.712 wasn’t going to be enough.

And so it proved. A Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) PB lap saw Pecco drop out of the top 10 and at the same time, Martin rose to P3. The goalposts were then moved significantly by an eight-time World Champion. Marquez set a 1:27.770 to go 0.3s clear of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) before Martin cut the advantage to 0.197s.

Needing a good lap time in the final five minutes, Bagnaia delivered a 1:28.013 to propel the reigning Champion to P4, 0.243s adrift of Marquez’s effort. A late pair of crashes for Acosta and Miller – the former at Turn 4 and the latter at Turn 6 – brought out some late yellow flags, and it was a crash that cost Acosta a top 10. In the end, it did for Miller too as Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Alex Marquez left it late to leap into the automatic Q2 positions.

So at the end of play, Viñales was P6 behind the aforementioned quintet of Ducatis, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Morbidelli and the impressive Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completing a top 10 that will be sleeping a little easier tonight than the riders who just missed out on the Q2 cut.

2024 Australian MotoGP News and Results—Friday MotoGP

1	Marc Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	1:27.770
2	Alex Marquez	(Gresini Racing MotoGP™)	+0.102
3	Marco Bezzecchi	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+0.188
4	Jorge Martin	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+0.197
5	Francesco Bagnaia	(Ducati Lenovo Team)	+0.243
6	Maverick Viñales	(Aprilia Racing)	+0.390
7	Brad Binder	(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)	+0.495
8	Fabio Di Giannantonio	(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)	+0.542
9	Franco Morbidelli	(Prima Pramac Racing)	+0.550
10	Alex Rins	(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)	+0.658

Friday Moto2

Following a wet Free Practice session in the morning, Phillip Island’s newly resurfaced layout dried out towards the end of Moto2™ and coming out on top was Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp). The Spaniard set a 1:32.718 to beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by a couple of tenths and teammate Alonso Lopez by three tenths to head into Saturday as the rider to catch.

Japanese GP winner Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) completed a top five split by just under six seconds.

Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), the rider second in the Championship, ended Friday in P7 despite a crash in the morning, one place behind sixth fastest Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).

Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) finished Day 1 of his first match point weekend in P13, 1.4s away from Aldeguer’s pace.

2024 Australian MotoGP News and Results—Friday Moto2

1	Fermin Aldeguer	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	1:32.718
2	Aron Canet	(Fantic Racing)	+0.277
3	Alonso Lopez	(Beta Tools SpeedUp)	+0.307
4	Manuel Gonzalez	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.437
5	Jake Dixon	(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team)	+0.503
6	Tony Arbolino	(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)	+0.586
7	Sergio Garcia	(MT Helmets – MSI)	+0.795
8	Albert Arenas	(Gresini Moto2™)	+0.837
9	Deniz Öncü	(Red Bull KTM Ajo)	+0.882
10	Izan Guevara	(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team)	+0.994

Friday Moto3

Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) ended his first day riding the phenomenal Phillip Island at the top of the timesheets – and by some margin too. The rookie, in the damp but thankfully sunny conditions, was 1.042s clear of David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) after setting a 1:44.949, as Adrian Fernandez made it two Leopard Racing Hondas in the top three.

Kopron Rivacold Snipers duo, David Almansa and Matteo Bertelle, rounded out the top five in the tricky conditions to make it four Honda machines in the top five.

Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was the only other rider in the Championship top four to claim a provisional top 14 place in P7. It was P17 for Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and last place for Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), so the Spaniards have work to do on Saturday morning to climb into the automatic Q2 positions.

Home hero Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) claimed P10 on Friday, while fellow Aussie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) picked up a P22 on his first day in front of his faithful fans.

2024 Australian MotoGP News and Results—Friday Moto3

1	Angel Piqueras	(Leopard Racing)	1:44.949
2	David Alonso	(CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team)	+1.042
3	Adrian Fernandez	(Leopard Racing)	+2.113
4	David Almansa	(Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team)	+2.162
5	Matteo Bertelle	(Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team)	+2.204
6	David Muñoz	(BOE Motorsports)	+2.710
7	Collin Veijer	(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP)	+2.743
8	Stefano Nepa	(LEVELUP – MTA)	+2.852
9	Luca Lunetta	(SIC58 Squadra Corse)	+2.884
10	Joel Kelso	(BOE Motorsports)	+3.003

For more MotoGP news and results, click here