The MotoGP Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island started in extreme weather conditions, with torrential rain forcing organizers to revise the test schedule. From the start of the morning, it was clear that the circuit’s unpredictable weather was going to pose problems, especially due to the aquaplaning visible in several areas of the track. The drivers were ready to go, but safety was the top priority, and the “safety car” driven by Loris Capirossi took to the track to assess the conditions.
Unfortunately, after several passes on the track, it became apparent that some sections were too dangerous to ride, with slippage at some critical points. Initially, a 20-minute delay was announced to see if conditions would improve, but this turned into a long wait. The teams and drivers had to adapt to this uncertain situation, and some of them, like Aleix Espargaróeven started to prepare their motorbikes when the rain seemed to calm down, before seeing the showers start again.
The confusion intensified, particularly when pilots like Johann Zarco et Aleix Espargaró spoke with
Capirossi to better understand the situation. Several drivers also expressed concerns about track conditions. Pecco Bagnaia, Jack Milleret Marc Marquez were also in discussion with their teams and representatives of
Michelin to evaluate the best decision.
After hours of waiting and several successive postponements, the drivers started joking, with a collective “Ride Through” in the pit lane to lighten the atmosphere. Finally, after Capirossi struggled to keep the safety car under control on the slippery track, canceling the MotoGP test session
FP1 was confirmed.
This delay impacted the rest of the day’s schedule, and it remains to be seen how the weather will develop for the upcoming practice sessions and races at Phillip Island, a circuit already known for its difficult and unpredictable conditions. So what will this Practice have in store for us, already decisive for direct entry into Q2? Before knowing it, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.
| MotoGP ™ Australie, Phillip |
2023 |
2024 |
| FP1 | 1’29.039 Jorge Martin (See here) | Session canceled due to rain (See here) |
| Practice | 1.27.943 Brad Binder (See here) | (See here) |
| FP2 | 1’29.299 Jorge Martin (See here) | (See here) |
| Q1 | 1’28.160 Francesco Bagnaia (See here) | (See here) |
| Q2 | 1’27.246 Jorge Martin (See here) | (See here) |
| Sprint | Race brought forward to Saturday due to weather | (See here) |
| Warm Up | XXX | (See here) |
| Course | Zarco, Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio (See here) | (See here) |
| Record | 1’27.246 Jorge Martin 2023 (See here) |
In view of the impassable conditions observed during the Australian morning, this prequalification session was
extended by 20 minutes and will end at 7:20 a.m. From 7:20 a.m. to 7:35 a.m. there will be departure tests.
By the way, if Jorge Martín scores 31 points more than Marc Marquez at Phillip Island, the Gresini driver will be excluded from the fight for the world championship. It is not easy, but it cannot be ruled out either since
37 points are distributed for each Grand Prix.
A double from Martin combined with a retirement from Marquez on Sunday and not being on the podium on Saturday would be enough.
The accounts are very similar for Enea Bastianinisince the Italian has only two points more than Marquez. In his case, Jorge Martín should score 33 points more than Bastianini in the overall calculation of the weekend. But, realistically, it would make sense that Marquez and Bastianini mathematically keep their title chances at least until Thailand .
MotoGP, Australia, Practice: ranking
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