Prima Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco has clocked the fastest lap in the first session back for MotoGP™ at the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. It was a very Australian Friday morning at Phillip Island, with an early yellow flag for a wallaby running across the track on the run to Siberia (Turn 6) and then none other than Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) holding the fastest lap when the chequered flag came out, with a time of 1:30.459. However, the man from Townsville came up on traffic while faster to the second sector on his final lap, opening the door for his Ducati stablemate to steal FP1 honours with a 1:30.368.
Yep, we're definitely back in Phillip Island! ????????#AustralianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/zSg7wUT32i
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 13, 2022
Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) jumped to third on a 1:30.493 in the time attack phase at the end of the session, ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) on a 1:30.511 and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) on a 1:30.687. Marc Marquez was fastest for a period, before rolling out on a Repsol Honda Team entry fitted with a Ducati-style ‘stegosaurus’ seat unit, and would eventually claim seventh on a 1:30.897, with teammate Pol Espargaro 11th on a 1:31.194.
The Stegosaurus aero spreads to Honda ????@marcmarquez93 has a couple of new parts to play with today ????#AustralianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/DilSQN4rmi
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 13, 2022
Also of note was that six riders broke the old Phillip Island top speed record, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) by the most as they went as quick as 349.5km/h. World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was not among them and he would be classified 12th on a 1:31.195 but did not take new Michelin tyres at the end of the session. He was, however, forced into a couple of early saves, as damp patches after rain on the day prior kept riders on their toes. Quartararo’s nearest rival in the standings, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), finished the session eighth on a 1:31.077.
So, lots for riders to chew over, and lots more to play out – tune in for FP2 at 14:10 (GMT +11)!
MotoGP™ FP1 Top 10
1. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) – 1:30.368
2. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.091
3. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) + 0.125
4. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.143
5. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0.319
6. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.422
7. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.529
8. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.709
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.719
10. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) + 0.798