Marquez makes further statement

Marc Marquez has sent another ominous message ahead of MotoGP qualifying, being in a league of his own in FP2 at Phillip Island.

In an evolving session where the track surface kept drying, but not enough for slicks, Marquez was the only rider in the 1m35s window.

The 1:35.325 was a huge 0.875s clear of Maverick Vinales and Johann Zarco, who were the only riders within a second of the #93.

Jack Miller was 16th, but recorded the second least amount of laps in the 30-minute session.

All eyes turn to qualifying for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, which begins with the slowest 12 on track chasing a ticket to Q2 at 10.50 AEDT.

The second, but final practice session began on a wet track, but with the sun starting to poke out and Raul Fernandez set the fastest opening lap of a 1:40.895 ahead of Marc Marquez and Vinales.

But as the track dried the times kept tumbling with Marquez being the first to record a 1m37s time.

His 1:37.078 was so fast it remained the benchmark for the entire opening half an hour.

After seven minutes Acosta was the only one to join him and be within a second of the Gresini rider. Zarco moved up to third ahead of Vinales at the start of the second half, but was still more than a second adrift.

As the track dried many played the waiting game throughout the midpoint of the session, but the intensity lifted with 12 minutes remaining as Fernandez, Bagnaia, Acosta, Miller and Bastianini all jumped within a second of the #83 to fill the minor places.

Bagnaia kept pushing on his soft wets and was the first to knock Marquez off top spot with a 1:37.054 with nine minutes left.

The sister Gresini Ducati of Alex Marquez then pushed the session into a new phase, being the first to record a 1m36s time on the new Medium rain tyres.

The big boys then followed suit with Martin, brother Marc, Zarco and Vinales all going faster.

Once again Marc Marquez landed the knockout blow, with a 1:36.068 a further tenth clear of the Aprilia rider’s benchmark.

However, the #93 was not done with yet, flying into the 1m35s window to jump a huge eight tenths clear.

Not all riders were able to enjoy a full run at the death. 

Takakki Nakagami encountered mechanical issues with smoke coming out of the Honda. The Japanese rider was also investigated for ignoring a mechanical flag.

Acosta ran off line at Lukey Heights, which forced him to take a tour through the gravel.

Now the pressure rises with Q1 about to begin at 10.50 AEDT with the coveted Q2 berths up for grabs.

Image: Gold and Goose

2024 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

Practice 1: Fri 10.45-11.30 (Fox Sports)

Practice: Fri 15.00-16.00 (Fox Sports)

Practice 2: Sat 10.10-10.40 (Fox Sports)

Qualifying: Sat 10.50-11.30 (Fox Sports)

Sprint: Sat 15.00 13 Laps (Channel 10/Fox Sports)

Warm up: Sun 9.40-9.50 (Fox Sports)

Grand Prix: Sun 14.00 27 laps (Channel 10/Fox Sports)

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.