Zarco quickest, Marquez crashes in rainy Australian Warm Up

Johann Zarco has set the fastest lap in a weather-affected MotoGP™ Warm Up session at the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The Prima Pramac Racing rider, who qualified sixth for the 27-lap race on his Ducati, got in an early 1:36.804 before the rain at Phillip Island started to get particularly heavy. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) did not register a time after he became the only rider of the session to crash, with a low-speed rear-end lose at the Southern Loop. Fortunately, the eight-time World Champion walked away ahead of his front row start this afternoon.

Marquez also had a rear-end moment even exiting his pit box, and he was not the only World Champion to be caught out by the tricky conditions, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) taking a tour through the infield grass at Doohan Corner after running off the circuit. The Frenchman kept his YZR-M1 upright and would be classified third-fastest for the session on a 1:39.204, behind Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) on a 1:38.231 – both times on the riders’ first complete laps. Pole-sitter Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) finished the session with the ninth-fastest time while the other front row starter, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), was classified 11th.

Now, either riders face the challenge of a wet race, or teams face the challenging of trying to choose their slick Michelin tyres without the benefit of data from the Warm Up. It’s a journey into the unknown, so don’t miss lights out at 14:00 (GMT +11)!

MotoGP™ WUP Top 10

1. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) – 1:36.804
2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 1.427
3. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) + 2.400
4. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 2.613
5. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 2.901
6. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 3.289
7. Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) + 3.509
8. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 4.086
9. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) + 4.256
10. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 4.308

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