Marc Marquez Leads Opening Practice at Phillip Island
Marc Marquez set the pace during Free Practice 1 at the Australian Grand Prix on October 23, 2026, posting a session-best lap of 1:27.985s on older tyres for the Ducati Lenovo Team. The opening 45-minute session at Phillip Island featured contrasting fortunes across the grid, with late-session time attacks shaking up the order behind Marc Marquez.
Trackhouse Racing rider Raúl Fernández finished just 0.048 seconds behind Marquez in second place despite a heavy early crash. Meanwhile, local favourite Jack Miller thrilled the home crowd by briefly topping the times before crashing out at Doohan Corner, ultimately securing third place for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, 0.135 seconds off the pace.
Crashes and Mechanical Failures Disrupt Phillip Island Session
The morning session at Phillip Island brought significant drama, highlighted by multiple crashes and a major mechanical failure. Fernández went down early at Siberia, immediately clutching his already injured fingers as he slid through the gravel trap, according to Speedcafe. The Trackhouse rider had spoken on Thursday about managing an injury that left him below 100 percent fitness following a previous crash in Mandalika.
🫢 @25RaulFernandez has gone down too at SiberiaAnd all eyes are on his already injured fingers 👀#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/Ub08k3KHq9
Iker Lecuona, replacing Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini Ducati, also crashed at Siberia and narrowly escaped being struck by his own sliding machine. The incidents continued when Jack Miller suffered a low-side crash at Doohan Corner immediately after setting the fastest lap of the session. The Australian rider escaped injury, jogged back to the pit lane, and grabbed his second bike to complete practice starts at the end of the session. Mechanical trouble struck Red Bull KTM Factory Racing when Brad Binder suffered an explosive engine failure midway down the Gardner Straight.
Contrasting Fortunes for Yamaha and Honda Contenders
Fabio Quartararo finished ninth for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team with a time of 1:28.788s, reinforcing the positive signs shown by the Iwata manufacturer alongside Miller’s third-place result. Johann Zarco emerged as the highest-placed Honda rider, taking twelfth for Castrol Honda LCR and missing the top ten by just a tenth of a second. At the back of the field, Luca Marini anchored the timesheets for Honda HRC Castrol, finishing over six seconds off the leading pace.
| Position | No. | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | 1:27.985 | — |
| 2 | 25 | Raúl Fernández | Trackhouse Racing | 1:28.033 | +0.048 |
| 3 | 43 | Jack Miller | Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP | 1:28.120 | +0.135 |
| 4 | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 1:28.278 | +0.293 |
| 5 | 73 | Álex Márquez | Gresini Racing MotoGP | 1:28.285 | +0.300 |
| 6 | 37 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:28.434 | +0.449 |
| 7 | 89 | Jorge Martín | Aprilia Racing | 1:28.438 | +0.453 |
| 8 | 79 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Racing | 1:28.620 | +0.635 |
| 9 | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team | 1:28.788 | +0.803 |
| 10 | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team | 1:28.952 | +0.967 |
| 11 | 33 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:28.965 | +0.980 |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Phillip Island Practice
What time did Marc Márquez set to lead Free Practice 1?
Marc Márquez posted a session-best lap of 1:27.985s on older tyres for the Ducati Lenovo Team, edging out Raúl Fernández by 0.048 seconds.
Which riders suffered crashes during the opening session?
Jack Miller crashed at Doohan Corner after briefly holding the fastest time, while Raúl Fernández and Iker Lecuona both went down at Siberia corner.
Marc Marquez vs. Aprilia ⚔#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/C1sKyCULM3
When does MotoGP track action resume at Phillip Island?
MotoGP practice sessions continue on Friday at 3:00pm AEDT following the opening morning action.