Marco Bezzecchi rebounded from an early crash to set Friday's fastest practice time for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. The Aprilia Racing rider posted an untouched 1’26.775 late in the afternoon session, heading an exceptional showing that placed four RS-GP machines inside the top five.
Four Aprilias Swarm Marc Marquez in Top Five
Raul Fernandez secured second place for SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, finishing just behind Bezzecchi to seal an Aprilia one-two at the head of the timing screens. Marc Marquez was the sole non-Aprilia rider inside the top five, putting his factory Ducati Lenovo Team machine into third after setting the weekend's first sub-1’27 lap with eight minutes remaining. The reigning world champion's session concluded with a minor hitch when an issue during his post-chequered-flag practice start forced him to hitch a ride back to the paddock on a scooter.
Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura claimed fourth, while Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin used his final flying lap to jump into fifth. The late flurry placed four RS-GP machines around Marquez, securing automatic passage into Qualifying 2 for both factory and satellite Aprilia squads.
Red Flags and Wildlife Halt Early Running
The afternoon practice had begun under dramatic circumstances, with two red-flag interruptions halting running in the opening 20 minutes. Jack Miller suffered a tumble at Turn 6 on his Prima Pramac Yamaha, marking the Australian's second crash of Friday following an FP1 spill at Turn 1. Moments later, Bezzecchi tumbled after contact with Alex Marquez under braking into Turn 4, triggering a red flag as debris needed clearing from the track.
Bezzecchi was uninjured in the incident. Shortly after track action resumed, a second red flag was required when a wallaby entered the circuit, bringing proceedings to another brief standstill before riders could resume competitive lap times.
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Behind the top five, BK8 Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez held onto sixth place to secure direct entry into Q2, despite bringing out late yellow flags with a crash at Turn 4 with two minutes remaining. Enea Bastianini claimed top KTM honours in seventh for Red Bull KTM Tech3, edging factory rider Pedro Acosta in eighth by 0.026s. Diogo Moreira earned ninth for Pro Honda LCR, while Fabio Di Giannantonio clinched tenth for Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team to claim the final automatic transfer spot.
Falling outside the top ten consigned a group of high-profile contenders to Qualifying 1. Johann Zarco missed out late to finish 11th for Castrol Honda LCR, joined in Q1 by home favourite Miller in 12th, Brad Binder, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, and Gresini substitute Iker Lecuona, with 14 riders covered by less than a second and 11th to 19th split by less than six tenths.
Honda HRC Castrol rider Luca Marini took no further part on Friday after completing only a handful of morning laps.
Sources: Bezzecchi fastest on Friday at Phillip Island, Aprilias gang-up on Marc Marquez.
