Having already swapped the full-length MotoGP race with the Saturday Sprint, further schedule changes have now been announced for Sunday at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.
After his highest-scoring weekend of the season at Mandalika, topped by a podium, Fabio Quartararo was left just 17th fastest on Friday at the Australian MotoGP.
Data from the cancelled Phillip Island qualifying in 2019 was behind the decision to move this weekend’s Australian MotoGP race forward to Saturday afternoon.
The extreme weather forecast for Phillip Island on Sunday means the Australian MotoGP race will now be held on Saturday, swapping places with the Sprint.
After snatching the MotoGP title lead back from Jorge Martin last Sunday in Mandalika, Francesco Bagnaia is fired up and ready for battle in Australia this weekend.
Four days on from his race-leading accident at Mandalika, Jorge Martin was at least able to crack a joke: ‘It was the shortest MotoGP title lead in history!’
Casey Stoner retired in 2012 before the current MotoGP top three of Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi had even started their grand prix careers.
The Gresini team has no doubt that new superstar signing Marc Marquez can fight for race wins and the MotoGP title next season, as they also hope to convince him to stay for 2025.
Despite achieving his only MotoGP podium of last season at Phillip Island, where he finished in the wheeltracks of race winner Alex Rins, Marc Marquez has ‘zero expectations’ ahead of his return to Australia.