Jorge Martin holds a slender 10-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia as the final triple header of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship begins at Phillip Island in Australia.
Always one of the most anticipated rounds of the season, the thrilling seaside circuit has been the scene of many epic battles, while the notoriously unpredictable weather is set to keep teams and riders on edge.
This year’s event comes with the added unknown of MotoGP’s very first laps on the new Phillip Island asphalt.
The last time the Australian track was resurfaced, in 2013, MotoGP required a shortened race distance and pit stops due to the overheating Bridgestone rubber.
The same fate then befell the WorldSBK Championship when it took to the latest tarmac in February of this year, meaning all eyes will be on Michelin’s chosen line-up of 2024 MotoGP compounds.
Whatever happens, MotoGP will be hoping for its first Phillip Island Sprint race this weekend, after storm warnings saw the Saturday race replaced by the full grand prix in 2023.
Martin came within a lap of glory last year, until a soft tyre gamble backfired and team-mate Johann Zarco swept to a long awaited first MotoGP win. The forecast storm then arrived on Sunday, cancelling the rescheduled Sprint.
FP1 starts at 10:45am local time (12:45am UK) followed by Practice at 3:00pm (5:00am UK).
That's all from us after a wild day of action at the Australian Grand Prix.
We'll be back bright and early on Saturday for more MotoGP action. Keep your eyes fixed on Crash.net over the rest of Friday for all of the latest news from the paddock.
Session has come to a close and Marc Marquez leads the way with a 1m27.770s.
Martin and Bagnaia were third and fourth, while Bastianini is out of Q2 in 16th.
Acosta ran wide at Turn 4 and fell on the grass. He is out of Q2 now.
Acosta has crashed. As has Miller for a second time. Yellow flags in sector two.
Martin has a near moment with a rabbit through Turn 7. That was a scary moment.
The yellow flags have been cleared at sector one.
Bagnaia crosses the line and is up to fourth. Crucial lap.
Savadori has crashed at Turn 1. That's a fast place to go down. Yellow flags out in sector one.
Bagnaia is down to 12th with six minutes left in the session. Big few moments coming up for the world champion's Australian GP weekend.
Marc Marquez fires in a 1m27.770s with eight minutes to go. Absolutely nothing wrong with the grip of the new asphalt despite the weather today!
Good lap from Di Giannantonio as he goes third.
Bagnaia improves from 11th to eighth on that lap. He'll need a bit more and has rolled out of this lap.
Luca Marini is doing a great job for Honda too in ninth at the moment. Getting busy now on track with more riders switching to fresh soft rubber.
Vinales goes top on a fresh soft with a 1m28.160s.
That was done on a fresh soft rear, with more riders shifting to that for the final time attacks to secure their place in Q2.
Zarco goes up to second! What a lap from the Honda rider.
Fifteen minutes left in Practice. Top 10 is:
Zarco is having a fantastic session on the LCR Honda. He's currently running seventh and is comfortably the top representative for the Japanese manufacturers. Next best Honda is Nakagami in 15th.
Big moment for Acosta at Turn 4 a few moments ago. Held onto it in spectacular fashion!
Bagnaia improves to fourth.
Bagnaia makes a big jump up to sixth. Important lap and done as the sky gets darker again.
Acosta, in fourth, is running the new KTM front aero on his bike. He's one of three KTMs in the top 10 right now.
Marquez improves at the top of the order with a 1m28.454s.
