MotoGP Arrives at Phillip Island for Australian Grand Prix Qualifying and Sprint Race
MotoGP heads to Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix, with qualifying and the sprint race scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026. Coverage will broadcast live on Sky Sport and stream via Sky Go and NOW, with coverage on TV8, adnkronos.com reported.
Two weeks after the race weekend in Indonesia, the MotoGP championship moves to the coastal circuit in Australia. Saturday’s sessions will award the first points of the weekend following a dominant showing by Aprilia at Mandalika.
Marco Bezzecchi claimed victory in Indonesia, leading an Aprilia sweep of the top four positions ahead of teammates Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martin, and Ai Ogura, adnkronos.com reported. Bezzecchi also set the pace in pre-qualifying, outpacing Fernandez and Ducati rider Marc Marquez.
Saturday Schedule and Broadcast Details for Australian Grand Prix
Track activity on Saturday, October 24, opens with free practice before setting the grid and running the afternoon sprint race. Free Practice 2 begins at 1:10 AM, followed by official qualifying at 1:50 AM, and the Sprint Race at 6:00 AM, adnkronos.com reported.
Viewers can watch all Saturday sessions live on Sky Sport Uno (channel 201) and Sky Sport MotoGP (channel 208).
Circuit History and Championship Standings at Phillip Island
The 18th round of the 2026 MotoGP calendar takes place on a layout featuring fast, wide-radius sweeps, elevation changes, and strong ocean winds. The anti-clockwise circuit comprises 12 turns, split into seven left-handers and five right-handers, virgilio.it reported.
Recent history at Phillip Island shows parity among manufacturers. Raul Fernandez won the Australian event in 2025, Marc Marquez took victory for Gresini Racing in 2024, Johann Zarco won on a satellite Ducati in 2023, and Alex Rins triumphed on a Suzuki in 2022, virgilio.it reported.
In the current riders’ standings, Marc Marquez sits two points behind championship leader Jorge Martin after limiting damage in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi trails the championship lead by 46 points with five sprint and grand prix weekends remaining, virgilio.it reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Australian Grand Prix
What are the track specifications for Phillip Island?
The circuit features 12 corners—seven to the left and five to the right—run in an anti-clockwise direction. The main straight runs downhill toward the ocean, where riders face high top speeds and strong coastal winds, virgilio.it reported.
How many laps are scheduled for Sunday’s main race?
The main grand prix is scheduled for a distance of 27 laps, while the Saturday Sprint Race runs for 13 laps, virgilio.it reported.
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