P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Gresini’s Marc Marquez topped a chaotic MotoGP practice session at Phillip Island earlier today ahead of his younger brother Alex Marquez.
Following a storm that canceled the initial practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, the timed practice began under clear skies with a looming threat of rain. The session was extended to 80 minutes to provide riders with additional data before Saturday’s qualifying and races. Marc Marquez made a strong start and set an unbeaten time of 1:27.770, showcasing his impeccable skills. Early drama unfolded for championship leader Jorge Martin when he crashed during a warm-up lap, narrowly avoiding a collision with Fabio Quartararo. The session was temporarily halted due to a goose wandering onto the track, interrupting Martin and Francesco Bagnaia’s attempts to set a competitive lap time. Despite challenges, both Marquez brothers secured top positions, with Alex Marquez impressively reaching second place in the final moments of practice. The GP23 bikes dominated, with Marco Bezzecchi trailing closely in third, further intensifying the competition among title contenders Martin and Bagnaia.
