MotoGP Phillip Island: Zarco dominates Friday action

Prima Pramac’s Johann Zarco took firm control of the MotoGP standings as the championship returned to Phillip Island on Friday.

Setting the fastest time of both session across the opening day, the Frenchman’s 1’29.475 overall best was just 0.038s ahead of Mooney VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi as the rookie continued to shine in the latter part of the 2022 season. Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro surprising to third as he outpaced reigning champion Fabio Quartararo in the closing stages.

Zarco had been immediately on form on Friday morning as he denied home hero Jack Miller in the all-Ducati battle with a 1’30.368 in the dying seconds of FP1. The unique track throwing up drama only available down under as a wallaby brought out the yellow flags following a near miss by Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro at Siberia before the action resumed in earnest.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez concluded the morning seventh in the times after rolling out some Bologna-inspired aero on his RC213V with brother Alex third overall on the LCR Castrol. Gresini’s Enea Bastianini equalling the eight-time champion as the pair set a new 349.5km/h top speed record at the Victoria venue, with six riders in total breaking the previous best.

Marquez senior was in charge with a 1’30.126 as FP2 fired up in the improving conditions. Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales heading former teammate Quartararo in the top three as the trio bettered the previous benchmark after ten minutes on track.

Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia sat 17th at the halfway stage with just under a second separating him from the front runners and a Red Bull KTM either side. WithU Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow circulating just 0.019s adrift of the top ten thanks to a 1’30.671 as the title-challenger rose to match him.

Bagnaia