Jack Miller combined outright pace with a costly mistake during FP1 at Phillip Island. His Pramac Yamaha moved to the top of the session in the closing stages after he fitted fresh tyres. Moments later, however, Miller lost control of his Yamaha M1 at the demanding first corner and crashed at high speed.

Miller was able to walk away without injury, and the lap he had already set was good enough for third at the chequered flag. The result matters beyond the opening-session order: this is his final MotoGP appearance at Phillip Island before his move to WorldSBK. Marc Marquez led the session for Ducati on older tyres, while Raul Fernandez placed second for Trackhouse Aprilia.

Fernandez had earlier run through the gravel and returned after changing to fresh rubber and having his injured hand checked. The sunny but windy session also produced the first fall for Iker Lecuona, the Gresini Ducati replacement, while Brad Binder suffered a spectacular engine failure on his KTM. The incidents underlined the difficulty of a fast circuit where the wind can add another variable.

Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez is also in the Pramac garage this weekend, standing in for the injured Toprak Razgatlioglu. He finished FP1 in 16th. Friday afternoon’s Practice starts at 3pm local time, or 5am in the UK, and will decide which ten riders go directly through to Qualifying 2.