World · Malaysia Bureau
Marquez sets pace in frantic opening MotoGP practice at Phillip Island
Spanish Ducati rider Marc Márquez topped the opening practice session at the Australian Grand Prix with a late flourish, posting a quickest lap of 1 minute 27.985 seconds at Phillip Island circuit.
LSN Malaysia ·
Márquez capped an eventful session with a blistering final lap to edge the competitive field at the iconic Victorian venue. The Ducati rider's decisive push in the closing stages of the practice underscored his team's competitive positioning ahead of the weekend's racing action.
Phillip Island is hosting the final MotoGP event of its long association with the championship, adding significance to the proceedings on the challenging coastal circuit. The opening practice session delivered the kind of incident-strewn action characteristic of the demanding track, with multiple riders testing the limits of both their machines and the circuit's unforgiving nature.
The strong showing by Márquez in the early running reflects Ducati's continued competitiveness in the championship battle. As teams prepare for qualifying and race day, the practice session provided crucial data and setup refinement opportunities on a track known for its technical demands and variable conditions.
With the session complete, attention now turns to subsequent practice rounds as riders and teams work to optimize their performance for the remainder of the weekend at the seaside circuit.