MotoGP™: Zarco on top in early practice

A late effort has seen Johann Zarco lead Jack Miller in the times in the opening Practice session for this weekend’s Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2022.

The Frenchman and his Prima Pramac Ducati GP22 sped around the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in 1m30.368s, just 0.091s faster than the Australian on the Ducati Corse entry.

The session was held in tricky conditions that saw damp patches avoided by the riders for most of the session. There was also a unique ‘only in Australia’ moment in which Repsol Honda rider Pol Espargaro escaped contact with a wallaby that decided to cross the track between Turns 4 and 5...

It was an interesting session for Honda. Alex Marquez was third fastest on his LCR Honda, just ahead of Suzuki’s Alex Rins. Alex’s brother Marc Marquez started his quest for a fifth win at Phillip Island by going seventh fastest, testing a new Ducati-like ‘stegasaurus’ rear win set-up on his Honda RC213V.

It's your last chance to secure Grandstand tickets to Race Day at the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2022.

During the session the six-time MotoGP™ champion also reset the circuit’s top speed record to a spicy 348.5kmh before he braked at the end of Gardner Straight.

Of the title contenders, Aleix Espargaro was fifth fastest on his Aprilia RS-GP, one place ahead of Gresini Ducati’s Enea Bastianini. Francesco Bagnaia was eighth fastest and Fabio Quartararo 12^th, though the points leader did not fit soft tyres onto his Yamaha M1 during the session.

Aussie Remy Gardner was 20^th fastest on his KTM, three places ahead of Tech3 teammate Raul Fernandez.

The second Practice 45-minute session is set to start at 2:10 pm (AEDT).