01:05
Marc Marquez is chasing a fast Augusto Fernandez and could pinch second from the rookie.
Francesco Bagnaia, Australian MotoGP 20 September
2023 Australian MotoGP: Saturday GP Race - LIVE UPDATES
Gale-force winds forecast for Sunday means the main Australian MotoGP race has been moved forward to Saturday afternoon, swapping places with the Sprint, which now takes over the GP slot on Sunday (weather permitting).
Francesco Bagnaia takes an 18-point lead over Jorge Martin into today's race after the Pramac Ducati rider’s costly fall from the lead at Mandalika last Sunday.
However, Martin will start from pole position after setting a new Phillip Island lap record, with KTM's Brad Binder and reigning champion Bagnaia completing the front row.
Aleix Espargaro, Johann Zarco and Fabio di Giannantonio will form row two with Binder's team-mate and home hero Jack Miller starting between Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales in eighth.
Last year's Phillip Island winner Alex Rins withdrew on Saturday morning due to pain from his Mugello leg fractures.
Marc Marquez took his only podium of the season in Australia last year.
21 Oct 2023
01:04
Bagnaia pulls away from Mir and gets a tow from Marini ahead to go fastest with 1min remaining. Augusto Fernandez now holds the other transfer spot in second.
01:03
3mins to go and it looks like a race on track, with all 11 riders together.
01:02
Lots of riders sit up at the Turn 4 hairpin on their out lap to try and get a tow.
Bagnaia now has Joan Mir in his slipstream, followed by Augusto Fernandez and Marc Marquez.
01:00
Bagnaia holds his nerve and heads out last.
01:00
The clock is ticking, most riders are sat waiting on their bikes while Bagnaia is standing in the Ducati garage...
00:59
Riders are all waiting in pit lane, Bagnaia is sure to be a tow target.
00:56
Augusto Fernandez and Marc Marquez, in his slipstream, snatch first and second.
Bagnaia then splits them with 2nd on his next lap, but a top 2 won't be guaranteed for Bagnaia...
Riders are now pulling into the pits for a tyre change before their final run.
00:54
Bagnaia starts as he means to go on by going fastest on his first flying lap, 0.367s ahead of Quartararo.
00:52
All riders are using medium compound front tyres with soft rears.
00:52
Bagnaia leaves the pits with Quartararo and Mir in his wheeltracks.
00:51
Qualifying 1 begins, with all eyes on Bagnaia, who will be desperate to avoid another shock exit after starting 13th in Mandalika last weekend.
00:45
Qualifying 1 line-up:
- Francesco BAGNAIA
- Augusto FERNANDEZ
- Raul FERNANDEZ
- Alex MARQUEZ
- Marc MARQUEZ
- Fabio QUARTARARO
- Joan MIR
- Luca MARINI
- Miguel OLIVEIRA
- Takaaki NAKAGAMI
- Franco MORBIDELLI
00:43
Final practice ends with Jorge Martin fastest, Qualifying 1 next.
00:38
Bagnaia heads out on a soft rear tyre for the final minutes, perhaps to gather confidence ahead of his high-pressure Qualifying 1 appearance.
00:33
Martin improves at the top on the mediums, most other riders have also now switched to the medium rear tyre.
00:29
Title contender Jorge Martin has now switched to the medium rear tyre.
00:26
At the bottom of the timesheets are currently Miguel Oliveira, Takaaki Nakagami, Franco Morbidelli and Luca Marini.
00:26
Halfway through final practice, top 10: Martin, M.Marquez, A.Espargaro, Bagnaia, A.Fernandez, Vinales, A.Marquez, R.Fernandez, Binder, Bastianini.
00:25
Friday leader Brad Binder is currently ninth (medium tyres) with KTM team-mate Jack Miller 13th (medium-soft).
00:23
Title leader Francesco Bagnaia, who will join the likes of Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo in Qualifying 1, is now the quickest on the medium rear tyre, in fourth.
00:21
Marc Marquez was the only rider to gamble on the soft rear last year and nearly won, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he does so again after being just 15th fastest on Friday.
00:20
Normally of course, with the Sprint race before the main race, teams can examine the soft tyre after the Sprint and decide if it can last the full Sunday distance or not.
00:19
Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez adn Aleix Espargaro are setting the early pace. All three have the soft rear tyre, but around half the field has the medium as they rush through data gathering to work out if the soft might last the full distance this afternoon or whether they will need to use the medium.
