RAIN ARRIVES AS MARQUEZ FALLS IN WARM UP

The countdown is on for the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in three years and mother nature could have a big say this afternoon after affecting this morning’s warm up session.

Sprinkles of rain started falling at Phillip Island just as teams were preparing for the important session, impacting their ability to gain invaluable data to make the crucial tyre call at the race, but it did not stop Prima Pramac Racing rider Johann Zarco from topping the timesheets for the fourth time this weekend.

Zarco led the entire session after banking some early laps before the heavy rain arrived with his 1:36.804 almost a second and a half better than the rest.

Aprillia Racing Team Gresini’s Mavrick Vinales was the runner-up, 1.427s behind the leader.

Despite a high-speed off-track excursion at Doohan Corner, championship leader Fabio Quartararo finished third, 2.400s off the pace.

But the big story of the session once again surrounded Repsol Honda star Marc Márquez.

Marc Márquez suffered a crash at Southern Loop and a slip in pit lane during this morning’s warm up session. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images)

Marquez was riding rather innocuously at low speed through the right handed Southern Loop on cold tyres, but was suddenly thrown off the left-hand side of the bike mid corner.

The seven-time world champion walked away unharmed, but the unexpected low-speed incident was not the way he wanted to enter the race as he could only register a P24 result.

Marquez also had a scary moment slipping in the pit lane and his team will have limited knowledge heading into this afternoon as he was the only rider not to set a time in the 20-minute session.

After the heavy deluge inside the first five minutes, no one could challenge Zarco as attention turned to gathering data in the wet conditions in case weather also impacts the race.

Satellite Ducati rider Enea Bastianini had a close call being impeded by the Italian brand’s factory star Francesco Bagnaia at MG.

Bastianini tried to make a move on Bagnaia, but the latter cut in front at the last moment as the championship contender finished the session 11th, while pole-sitter Jorge Martin recorded the ninth fastest time.

Australia’s Ducati representative Jack Miller stayed out of trouble to record P6, 3.289s slower than Zarco.

The other home-town hero Remy Gardner came home 18th and kept his KTM bike clean.

Following the wet warm up, the sun immediately returned after the chequered flag, which means teams will be on their toes heading into the race as conditions appear to be extremely unpredictable.

The race starts at 14:00 AEDT.

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