Aprilia Dominates Friday Practice at Phillip Island as Alex Márquez and Bezzecchi Clash
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The MotoGP paddock descended upon the iconic Phillip Island circuit this weekend for what could be one of the last appearances of the Australian Grand Prix before its scheduled exit from the calendar in 2027. Friday’s practice sessions set the tone with Aprilia riders showing formidable pace, particularly Marco Bezzecchi and Raúl Fernández who locked out the top two positions. Meanwhile, MotoGP star Alex Márquez found himself embroiled in a minor collision and a crash, casting a shadow over his opening day.
Bezzecchi topped the timesheets, followed closely by his teammate Fernández. Meanwhile, Jorge Martín and Ai Ogura placed fourth and fifth respectively, sandwiching Marc Márquez in third. Alex Márquez, riding for Gresini, was sixth fastest but not without incident. During the high-speed and windy Turn 3, the Italian Bezzecchi made contact with Alex Márquez, who was ahead on the racing line. The impact caused damage to Bezzecchi’s front lower fairing and forced him off the racing line.
Commenting on the collision, Alex Márquez was clear
Commenting on the collision, Alex Márquez was clear that it was a racing incident without malice. “I was following my usual line at my normal pace. I believe he intended to overtake because he was faster, but he misjudged it slightly. Nothing serious happened, it’s just one of those things,” explained Márquez to the media. However, his troubles didn’t end there. The Spaniard suffered a fall later in the session at Turn 10. “I picked the safest spot to crash here in Australia, so it wasn’t a heavy fall. I was trying to improve, and I had already made a mistake on the previous lap at the same corner on the right side,” he added.
Despite the setbacks, Márquez admitted his physical condition still affects his riding, especially through rapid direction changes. “I’m still struggling physically with the direction changes and don’t feel 100%. When you push at the limit, fitness matters, and I made that small error. But overall, I felt good within the group and had decent pace,” he said.
Weather remains a wildcard for the weekend, with forecasts indicating possible rain that could dramatically alter race dynamics. Márquez acknowledged the challenge, noting, “Tomorrow will be tough to draw conclusions because the weather looks set to change a lot. The situation could completely flip. Securing Q2 was important, but what we saw today won’t determine the weekend outcome. If conditions shift, everything can change.”
Regarding his wet-weather prospects, Márquez was cautiously realistic
Regarding his wet-weather prospects, Márquez was cautiously realistic. Historically adept in rain, he tempered expectations this season due to limited experience in wet conditions. “I hope we don’t gain an advantage in the rain because we haven’t had much wet track experience this year. I hope it’s more balanced, so it depends on the rider’s feel and how everyone manages the situation,” he concluded.
Friday at Phillip Island underscored Aprilia’s strength and raised questions about Alex Márquez’s form and fitness as the weekend progresses under uncertain weather conditions.
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