2026 Australian MotoGP News—Saturday
Martin KO’d
From seeing all four bikes in the top five on Friday, Aprilia’s weekend imploded on Saturday. Firstly, Marco Bezzecchi could only qualify ninth. Raul Fernandez retired from the Sprint – and the weekend – due to the pain in his index finger, a consequence of his Sprint crash in Indonesia.
But worst of all was Jorge Martin’s dramatic crash out of the victory fight on Saturday. The Spaniard had gallantly taken the fight to pole sitter Marc Marquez. The lead changed hands constantly between the chief title protagonists before Martin fell, breaking the radius bone in his right wrist, ruling him out of Sunday.
“A nasty crash,” he said after. “I feel a lot of pain. I will go to Melbourne to further checks. Then we’ll see how the injury is and how we’ll approach the next few days.” It’s hard to think anything other than title chances over for Martin.
Marquez goes all in… and gets some help
Marc Marquez knew the significance of beating Martin on Saturday – and decided to go all in to gain a psychological edge. “He knew this is one of my favorite circuits. I know that it is one of the circuits where the Aprilia is working well. If it was not Martin, I was not like this.”
The reigning World Champion now had a ten-point advantage over Martin – his biggest of the season. And with a wet race to come on Sunday, there is a chance that’ll grow bigger still.
Plus, he revealed he had a bit of help from younger brother Alex in the closing laps to take his eighth Sprint win of the year. “Alex had a lot of speed today. Maybe he didn’t attack me because it was me, honestly speaking and maybe he understood that to attack me was too risky. Because if he attacked, I would re-attack. I was going for the 12 points.”
MotoGP riders to receive incremental penalties
Teams were sent a controversial document from MotoGP management on Friday to inform riders of a new framework of punishments that will exist to ensure they ‘fulfil their obligations.’
‘Failure to attend or comply with a compulsory promotional activity’ once will result in a warning. Twice equals a €5,000 fine. Three times is €10,000. A fourth is €15,000 plus an official warning. Do it five times and there’ll be the removal of a session time. And six offences mean a grid penalty.
The document is clearly a result of Marc Marquez missing the kart race on the Sunday morning in Japan. But it states there can be exemptions from attending these compulsory events, including injury or the requirement of medical attention.
This is likely to inflame the current fractuous relationship between some riders and MotoGP management, with the riders feeling their time is being squeezed over a race weekend.
MotoGP Sprint Race
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) reclaimed the MotoGP championship lead with a hard-fought victory in the Phillip Island Tissot Sprint, while Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) crashed out of the fight and suffered a weekend-ending injury.
Marquez made the perfect getaway from pole position to lead into Turn 1, but Martin immediately charged forward from the second row to take second. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was also in the mix, moving past Martin at Turn 10 on Lap 2, only for the championship leader to respond immediately with a bold move at Turn 1.
The fight at the front intensified over the opening laps. Martin attacked Marquez into Turn 4 on Lap 3 but ran wide, allowing the Ducati rider to retain the advantage. Martin was soon back in front after making a successful move at Turn 10, setting up a tense battle between the two championship contenders.
Alex Marquez remained close, while Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) initially occupied fourth before a technical problem ended his Sprint.
Martin regained the lead on Lap 6 at Turn 1, but Marquez responded through Turn 2. Two laps later, Martin again challenged at Turn 1 and initially succeeded, only to run wide while attempting another pass at Turn 4.
Pushing beyond the limit, Martin clipped the inside kerb at Turn 7 and was unsettled heading into Turn 8. The Aprilia rider lost the front and crashed heavily into the gravel, ending his Sprint and ruling him out of Sunday’s race.
The incident left Marquez leading Alex Marquez, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completing a Ducati podium sweep.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) produced one of the strongest recoveries of the Sprint. Dropping from ninth to 12th on the opening lap, the Italian worked his way forward before passing Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for fourth with four laps remaining.
Despite light rain and a late challenge from his brother and Di Giannantonio, Marquez held on for his ninth Sprint victory of the season. Alex Marquez finished second, with Di Giannantonio third and Bezzecchi fourth.
Acosta completed the top five, while Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) initially finished sixth. However, an eight-second tyre-pressure penalty dropped him to 14th, promoting Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to sixth, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) to seventh, Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) to eighth and Iker Lecuona (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) into ninth.
The result puts Marquez back at the top of the championship, while Martin’s absence leaves the title fight dramatically altered heading into Sunday.
Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) will also miss Sunday after retiring from the Sprint with ongoing issues from his fractured right index finger suffered in Indonesia.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | 19m 9.411s |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +0.323s |
| 3 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +0.590s |
| 4 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +1.074s |
| 5 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +3.689s |
| 6 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +7.433s |
| 7 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +7.782s |
| 8 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR (RC213V)* | +10.722s |
| 9 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +10.773s |
| 10 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +11.215s |
Moto2 Qualifying
After the sun broke through for Q1, Zonta van den Goorbergh (Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team) topped the session ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – R.O.M.E.A – MSI), Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo), sending all four through to Q2.
And that extra track time immediately appeared to count.
Van den Goorbergh was quickest after the opening flying laps before Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) took over at the top. Arbolino climbed into second while Lopez pressed on again, before yellow flags appeared in Sector 4. Crucially, they were withdrawn just before Van den Goorbergh and Lopez reached the affected area, allowing the latter to improve again.
The Q1 graduates continued to make their presence felt as Veijer surged into fourth, while Gonzalez began his own climb through the order. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) then launched himself into second.
Then came the moment the Australian crowd had been waiting for: Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) went provisional pole.
At the halfway point, though, the timing screen looked nothing like anyone might have expected. Guevara sat ninth, Gonzalez 11th, David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) 14th and Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team) 16th as much of the field returned to pit lane ahead of one final assault.
With just over four minutes remaining, Van den Goorbergh led a train featuring Veijer, Gonzalez and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) back onto flying laps.
Then things went pear-shaped.
Agius suffered a huge crash at Turn 8 on his out lap, destroying his machine and bringing out the yellow flags. Van den Goorbergh, Veijer, Gonzalez and Baltus had already cleared the sector but behind them the consequences were enormous. Guevara, Alonso, Taiyo Furusato (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Salac were all on fast laps, their attacks instantly compromised.
Gonzalez made the opportunity count.
The Championship leader fired in his pole lap, with Baltus slotting just 0.106s behind to make it a provisional one-two.
Then the final minutes became a flat-out scramble. Ortola charged into third before another set of yellow flags threatened to wreck the closing attacks.
Guevara and Salac had already cleared the affected sectors, and the Czech rider made the most of Guevara’s tow to blast into third with a 1:30.237, just 0.115s from pole. Ortola was therefore shuffled back to fourth.
Guevara continued pushing and eventually salvaged sixth, only 0.155s away from Gonzalez despite a session repeatedly interrupted by yellow flags.
Holgado claimed fifth between Ortola and Guevara, while Agius’ earlier benchmark was still good enough for seventh despite his crash. Huertas took eighth ahead of Lopez and Arbolino, with just 0.212s covering the entire top ten.
For David Alonso, it was a qualifying session to forget. The Colombian repeatedly found himself on the wrong side of the yellow flags and could manage only 14th.
So Gonzalez will celebrate his 100th Grand Prix start from pole position, with Baltus and Salac alongside him and his nearest title rival three places further back. With just 5.5 points separating Gonzalez and Guevara, we’re in for a huge Sunday in the Moto2 Championship fight.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | 1′ 30.122s |
| 2 | Barry Baltus | BEL | REDS Fantic Racing (Kalex) | +0.106s |
| 3 | Filip Salac | CZE | OnlyFans American Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.115s |
| 4 | Ivan Ortola | SPA | QJMOTOR – R.O.M.E.A -MSI (Kalex) | +0.129s |
| 5 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.148s |
| 6 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | +0.155s |
| 7 | Senna Agius | AUS | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.173s |
| 8 | Adrian Huertas | SPA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.297s |
| 9 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.209s |
| 10 | Tony Arbolino | ITA | REDS Fantic Racing (Kalex) | +0.212s |
Moto3 Qualifying
With dark clouds hanging over the Island and grip levels changing lap by lap, the four riders who already had Q1 laps under their belts immediately looked threatening. Quiles was first out of pit lane, with Leopard Racing duo Adrian Fernandez and Guido Pini tucked in behind, but the Champion quickly raised his hand and abandoned the opening attempt, forcing the pair behind him to back out too.
That opened the door for the Q1 graduates. Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Eddie O’Shea (GRYD Racing) and Pratama all shot towards the sharp end on their first flying laps, while Kelso brightened Australian crowd spirits by grabbing provisional pole in his special green-and-gold colours.
Pini briefly wrestled P1 away before Kelso answered immediately. Then, with rain flags appearing and the drizzle beginning to intensify, the Australian pushed again. His 1:35.366 on lap four stretched his advantage at exactly the moment conditions appeared to be turning against the rest of the field.
Quiles was desperate to respond. He went fastest through Sector 1 before bleeding time later in the lap, eventually climbing through the order before a run through the Turn 4 runoff added another complication. With around six minutes remaining, much of the field headed for pit lane as teams faced the impossible Phillip Island question: fit fresh rubber and gamble on the weather, or stay out and risk watching the track slip away from them?
David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) chose to stay out and it was a decision that would come back to haunt him. The Spaniard repeatedly clawed back time through Sectors 2 and 3, only to watch it disappear again in the final sector. By the time it became clear the gamble hadn’t paid off, the window to bolt in fresh rubber had gone, leaving the Spaniard stranded with one final shot on used tyres.
Then came the storm before the chequered flag.
Almansa went down at Turn 4 as that part of the circuit became increasingly treacherous, ending his run of front-row starts. Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) also ran wide there, while Joel Esteban (LEVEL UP – MTA) suddenly lit up the timing screens with one of the laps of the session.
Quiles, meanwhile, was flying. The Champion delivered a 1:35.320 on his penultimate lap to grab provisional pole just before the chequered flag appeared, seemingly timing his attack to perfection.
But the drama was far from over on the Island.
Kelso was still on a lap that threatened pole before Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) ran into the back of him, ending the Australian’s attack and also compromising Scott Ogden’s (CIP Green Power) final effort. Esteban had already surged into the fight with a 1:35.376, eventually earning fourth, but the biggest shock was still to come.
Pratama evaded the chaos, crossed the line and stopped the clock at 1:35.299. Pole by 0.021s.
From Q1 to the very front of the Australian GP grid, the Indonesian had completed a stunning qualifying turnaround and written a little piece of Moto3 history in the process. His decisive final lap was more than half a second quicker than his previous effort as he produced the perfect response when it mattered most.
Quiles was denied what would have been his first pole since Assen but still secured another front-row start in second, while Kelso’s earlier benchmark survived for third, putting the Aussie in the perfect position to give the home crowd something to cheer about.
Esteban leads row two from O’Shea and Fernandez, with Ogden seventh ahead of Pini and Kiattisak Singhapong (Rivacold Snipers Team). Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA) completes the top ten, while Almansa’s difficult finish left him 11th ahead of Carpe.
A historic maiden polesitter, the World Champion launching from the middle of the front row and a home hero with everything to play for from third.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 | Veda Pratama | INA | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | 1′ 35.299s |
| 2 | Maximo Quiles | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +0.021s |
| 3 | Joel Kelso | AUS | GRYD Racing (Honda) | +0.067s |
| 4 | Joel Esteban | SPA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.077s |
| 5 | Eddie O’Shea | GBR | GRYD – Racing (Honda) | +0.148s |
| 6 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.319s |
| 7 | Scott Ogden | GBR | CIP Green Power (KTM) | +0.380s |
| 8 | Guido Pini | ITA | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.510s |
| 9 | Kiattisak Singhapong | THA | Rivacold Snipers Team (Honda) | +0.542s |
| 10 | Matteo Bertelle | ITA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.613s |
MotoGP Qualifying
On a damp but drying Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Zarco set the initial benchmark time, leading home hero Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) by 0.620s. Zarco’s time was the best of the day straight out of the gate, a 1:36.557, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) an early P3. The gap to the Q2 promotion places was 0.6s for the Italian though, before Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) moved into P3, 0.4s shy of Miller’s top two effort.
That changed again though when Pecco got to within two tenths of Miller on his next flyer, and then another improvement saw the double MotoGP World Champion shove Miller out of the top two. A flurry of fast times were then fired in though as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), then Miller, flew to P1, before Zarco then improved again to shuffle the South African back out of the top two.
And so it was, in the end, the two pre-session favourites who sailed their way into Q2 on the Island. 0.001s separating Miller and Zarco heading into the pole position shootout. As close as it gets.
And just when a dry line was beginning to appear, the rain began to fall once more. The stakes couldn’t have been higher at the start of Q2, and on his first flying lap, having dominated FP2, Marc Marquez crashed at Miller Corner. A classic front-end tuck, no chance of the reigning World Champion saving it, and the #93 had to head back out on his second bike with conditions worsening.
Meanwhile, Zarco sat on provisional pole position by less than a tenth, then 0.5s, with Alex Marquez the only rider within a second of the Frenchman. But for how long? Because Marc Marquez set one, then two, and then a third red sector. And across the line, surprise surprise, the 2025 World Champion climbed to P1. Classy.
Now, the pressure was piled back onto Aprilia Racing. With four minutes to go, Marco Bezzecchi was sixth and the World Championship leader, Martin, was down in 10th. Desperately needing a lap, Martin climbed to P4 as Marc Marquez then slipped to P2 after Zarco chucked in a 1:35.706, and then it was P3 for Marc Marquez as Miller delighted the home faithful with a lap good enough for provisional P2.
Emphasis on the word provisional, because the seven-time MotoGP World Champion then delivered a showstopper. 1.4s quicker than anyone else, Marc Marquez put pole position well out of sight of anyone, with younger brother Alex Marquez pouncing up to a late P2.
All eyes were then pinned on Martin. 0.9s through the final split, holding that to the line would mean P2 on the grid, but the title race leader lost time in the final split to go P4. Not a disaster, though. Far from it. A big lap from the 2024 World Champion, who shoved Miller to the middle of the second row at the close of qualifying play.
Still, P5 in his MotoGP Phillip Island goodbye was a mega job done by the Aussie, who sits one place ahead of 2025 Australian Grand Prix winner Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) on the grid.
It’s P6 for Fernandez, P7 and the front of Row 3 for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and P8 for Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Then, Bezzecchi. P9 for the Italian is a very disappointing qualifying result for the Indonesian GP winner, who now has a small mountain to climb in the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix if he’s to reduce the 46-point gap to teammate Martin in the overall standings.
Rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR), Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) make up the fourth row of the grid.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | 1’34.203s |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +1.494s |
| 3 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Castrol Honda LCR (RC213V) | +1.503s |
| 4 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +1.577s |
| 5 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.781s |
| 6 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +1.947s |
| 7 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +2.297s |
| 8 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +2.303s |
| 9 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +2.317s |
| 10 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR (RC213V)* | +3.681s |
2026 Australian MotoGP News—Friday
Aprilia denies team orders
After Jorge Martin failed to extend his championship lead in Indonesia, the prospect of team orders has entered Aprilia’s thinking.
Even if Technical Director Fabiano Sterlacchini said as much, they will not be in effect in Australia despite a meeting with all four riders on Thursday. “We always work together with Trackhouse,” said Marco Bezzecchi. “It’s normal to make a meeting and chat and discuss all the situations. So, for the moment, this is it.”
Ducati – and Marc Marquez – seemed intent on landing a jibe in their direction. “If you are fast, you don’t need team orders,” said the World Champion. “They can do whatever they want,” said Ducati Team Manager Davide Tardozzi. “We are trying to focus only to be fast on track. We know our opponents are very strong, but, we are looking only to have the best results for Marc.”
Ducati aero ‘not copy and paste’
Marc Marquez’s Desmosedici GP26 sprouted new ground effect aero parts attached to both sides of his rear swingarm on Friday – an innovation first introduced by Aprilia at Aragon. “The most important for me is that I see that Ducati is working, trying new things and giving everything, with five rounds to go, to try to fight together for the championship,” he said.
Asked if he was concerned Ducati – so long MotoGP’s innovators – was now simply copying elements of its rivals aerodynamic design, Marquez was clear: “An engineer, a rider, a person – you cannot be arrogant and only [use] your ideas. Sometimes you can learn from the others, sometimes the others can learn from you.“The most important thing is growing and trying to improve yourself and your team, and it’s what we try to do. I don’t feel that they copy and paste. In the end, this is competition; everybody is looking, even me as a rider, what the others are doing to try to perform better.”
MotoGP to press ahead with Qatar
As it stands, MotoGP will go to Qatar in a fortnight despite reports of the USA advising its staff to leave embassies across the Middle East as tensions heighten with Iran.
The decision had caused concern among MotoGP riders. To the extent they organized a meeting on Friday evening to discuss this issue. It’s believed 16 favor not going, while four stated they were.
The meeting raised the prospects of riders again pushing to mobilize in the face of repeated frustrations with MotoGP’s direction. “I think an association of riders was super important, useful. And it’s the correct time to do it,” said Pecco Bagnaia. “We have started two years ago with this process, but we didn’t finalize,” said Enea Bastianini. “I think it’s important to have a little bit of power. Because the teams have power. We don’t.”
Friday MotoGP
MotoGP’s thunder Down Under brought with it plenty of drama in the afternoon as two red flags, late crashes and big improvements gave a very interesting complexion going to Saturday. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) went from early faller to Friday fastest in a topsy-turvy day at Phillip Island but the Italian’s 1’26.775 late on went untouched. Four Aprilias in the top five and with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) in the middle of it all in third, just behind Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team), the fight is going to ignite as we hurtle to Sprint Saturday.
As the session started, the first crash came for Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) at Turn 6, the Australian’s second of the day after his fast Turn 1 spill in FP1. A few minutes later and Bezzecchi tumbled after contact with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) under braking at Turn 4. This triggered a red flag as debris needed clearing from the track but Bezzecchi himself was all OK. Then, shortly after the restart, a second red flag, this time due to a Phillip Island phenomenon: wildlife! A wallaby wanted to get the best view in the house but it’s necessitated the red flag.
Feeling no ill effects of his spill, Bezzecchi was leading the way ahead of Marc Marquez and Raul Fernandez. There were soon big improvements for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who went top whereas Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was right in touch in P3. Outside of the provisional top ten, Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and home favourite Miller were all facing Q1. Ahead of them, super-sub Iker Lecuona (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was in good form in eighth, less than 0.7s from top spot and ahead of teammate Alex Marquez.
There were further changes at the head of the field when both Marquez brothers went P1 and P2, Marc edging ahead of Alex to set the first 1’26 of the weekend with eight minutes remaining. Raul Fernandez split them and his teammate Ai Ogura was up in fifth. In the Aprilia Racing camp, Jorge Martin and teammate Marco Bezzecchi were sixth and seventh respectively going into a frantic final five minutes, all riders aiming to book Q2 spots.
With two minutes on the clock, yellow flags were out for Alex Marquez who crashed at Turn 4; he was OK but it was session done for the 2025 runner-up. A late charge up the order to P1 saw Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez fly up the order whilst Ogura in P4 and Martin’s last flying lap placing him fifth made it all four Aprilias inside the top five and swarming all around Marc Marquez in third – with the #93 having an issue at the very end in his Practice start, forced to hitch a ride back by scooter. Behind, Alex Marquez held on to a Q2 placing and top KTM honours went the way of Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who had a rather unassuming session until he rocketed up into P7. Acosta was 0.026s adrift in P8 ahead of Brazilian star Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) and Di Giannantonio who rounded out the top 10.
Being knocked out of the top ten late on will sting for Zarco who misses out, as does home-hero Miller in P12. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Bagnaia, Quartararo and Lecuona will join them in Q1 the 14 riders covered by less than a second and P11 to P19 split by less than six tenths.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—Friday MotoGP
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | 1’26.775s |
| 2 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.072s |
| 3 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Ducati Lenovo (GP26) | +0.126s |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | +0.126s |
| 5 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | +0.255s |
| 6 | Alex Marquez | SPA | BK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | +0.375s |
| 7 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.407s |
| 8 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.433s |
| 9 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR (RC213V) | +0.744s |
| 10 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina VR46 Ducati (GP26) | +0.756s |
Friday Moto2
A 1:30.016 was good enough for current hat-trick hero Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) to beat home hero Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) by a slender 0.018s in Moto2 Practice at Phillip Island, while David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team) rounded out a top three covered by 0.272s.
It was Alonso’s teammate, Daniel Holgado, who finished P4 in Practice despite a Turn 10 crash with just over 20 minutes to go, and just 0.003s further away in fifth place was Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) as plenty of improvements landed in the closing stages of a dramatic session.
There were three other riders who were less than four tenths adrift of Guevara’s top time. Those being sixth-fastest Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team), and the World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP). The latter heads into what looks to be a wet and wild weekend at Phillip Island, 0.371s slower than Guevara, but the most important stat is that ManuGas is straight into Q2.
Something that can’t be said for the rider third in the standings, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – R.O.M.E.A – MSI). For the first time this season, Ortola will have to come through Q1 if the Spaniard is to challenge for a front-row start in Australia.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—Friday Moto2
| 1 | Izan Guevara | SPA | BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (Boscoscuro) | 1′ 30.016s |
| 2 | Senna Agius | AUS | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.018s |
| 3 | David Alonso | COL | CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.272s |
| 4 | Daniel Holgado | SPA | CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (Kalex) | +0.304s |
| 5 | Filip Salac | CZE | OnlyFans American Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.307s |
| 6 | Alonso Lopez | SPA | ITALJET Gresini Moto2 (Kalex) | +0.320s |
| 7 | Alex Escrig | SPA | KLINT Racing Team (Forward) | +0.359s |
| 8 | Manuel Gonzalez | SPA | LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (Kalex) | +0.371s |
| 9 | Adrian Huertas | SPA | Italtrans Racing Team (Kalex) | +0.438s |
| 10 | Taiyo Furusato | JPN | Idemitsu Honda Team Asia (Kalex) | +0.468s |
Friday Moto3
Continuing to chase his first Grand Prix victory, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got off on the right foot to lead the Moto3 charge on day at the Australian GP. Seeking redemption after his Indonesian GP DNF, Carpe hopes to replicate his podium performance of 12 months ago and started strongly on Friday. Just behind, the home crowd will be cheering for Joel Kelso (Gryd Racing) as the Australian came home in second place in Practice.
Carpe unleashed his potential right at the end of the session, moving the goalposts and setting the fastest time of the day with a 1’35.292, just 0.026s ahead of Kelso in second place. He was likewise less than a tenth clear of newly-crowned World Champion Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the #28 right in touch and electing to stay out on the same rubber throughout the session to flex his race-pace muscles.
Outside the top three on a Friday isn’t the usual form that David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) shows but the #22 had to settle for fourth on day one. A late lap from Scott Ogden (CIP GreenPower) placed the British rider in P5 overall, just ahead of Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA), also with their own late laps. Other stand-out rides in the top 14 included Kiattisak Singhapong (Rivacold Snipers Team), The Thai rider moving through into Q2 directly for the first time with a fine P10.
Outside of the top 14, there were big names as Eddie O’Shea (GRYD Racing) missed out by just 0.023s, joined by the likes of Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia), rookie and first-time Phillip Island visitor Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) and Turn 4 crasher Guido Pini (Leopard Racing), all of which have had strong qualifying performances of late.
2026 Australian MotoGP Results—Friday Moto3
| 1 | Alvaro Carpe | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | 1′ 35.292s |
| 2 | Joel Kelso | AUS | GRYD Racing (Honda) | +0.026s |
| 3 | Maximo Quiles | SPA | CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (KTM) | +0.131s |
| 4 | David Almansa | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.324s |
| 5 | Scott Ogden | GBR | CIP Green Power (KTM) | +0.355s |
| 6 | Rico Salmela | FIN | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (KTM) | +0.512s |
| 7 | Matteo Bertelle | ITA | LEVEL UP – MTA (KTM) | +0.621s |
| 8 | David Munoz | SPA | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (KTM) | +0.690s |
| 9 | Brian Uriarte | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.731s |
| 10 | Kiattisak Singhapong | THA | Rivacold Snipers Team (Honda) | +0.760s |
