Marc Marquez set the fastest time in the final MotoGP practice session at Phillip Island, where heavy rain transformed Saturday morning’s running. Friday had been sunny, but substantial showers left the circuit gradually drying as the session unfolded. Qualifying 1 was then scheduled for riders who finished outside Friday’s top ten, including Johann Zarco and Jack Miller.

The weekend is especially significant for Miller because it is his last Australian Grand Prix before he moves to WorldSBK next season. It is also Phillip Island’s final MotoGP event for the foreseeable future. From 2027, the Australian Grand Prix is scheduled to move to a new street circuit in Adelaide.

A title fight shaped by absences

Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez are separated by only two points at the top of the riders’ standings. Aprilia did not extract the full benefit of its performance advantage in Indonesia, while both title contenders missed last year’s Phillip Island round through injury. Marco Bezzecchi won the Sprint there and Raul Fernandez took the Grand Prix, giving Aprilia a double victory.

Marquez has five MotoGP wins at Phillip Island, including his most recent victory there with Gresini Ducati in 2024. The current grid also includes three former winners at the circuit: Raul Fernandez, Johann Zarco and Alex Rins, each with one victory.

Toprak Razgatlioglu will miss the rest of the season while heading for surgery after the shoulder injury he sustained at Mandalika. Joan Mir remains absent and is receiving treatment for severe fatigue issues that culminated in his early retirement at Misano; he was not replaced at Phillip Island. HRC test rider Aleix Espargaro is also heading for surgery for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome after a private test at Sepang. Rain showers and cool temperatures were forecast for both Saturday and Sunday.

Phillip Island staged its first Australian Grand Prix in 1989 and, apart from the Covid cancellations in 2020 and 2021, has hosted the event continuously since 1997. Fabio Quartararo holds the official best-lap record with a 1m 26.465s lap set in 2025. The official fastest race lap belongs to Marc Marquez, who recorded 1m 27.765s in 2024.