MotoGP faces one of its most unpredictable weekends in recent seasons with newly crowned champion Marc Marquez - plus fellow former Phillip Island winners Jorge Martin and Maverick Vinales - all ruled out of action.
The trio formed the entire front row of last year’s Australian Grand Prix grid - when Marquez went on to win from Martin - but won’t take part this weekend due to injuries.
Factory Ducati star Marquez is absent for at least the next two rounds after undergoing surgery for ligament damage to his right collarbone, caused by contact from Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia.
Martin continues to be sidelined after undergoing surgery for a collarbone fracture sustained in a Turn 1 clash with Aprilia team-mate Bezzecchi at Motegi.
Tech3 KTM’s Vinales withdrew after qualifying at Mandalika due to ongoing issues with his healing shoulder.
With six Australian MotoGP wins between them - Marquez (4), Martin (1) and Vinales (1) - the only proven premier-class ‘Island winners in action this weekend are Alex Rins (2022) and Johann Zarco (2023).
Marquez is being replaced by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, Martin by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori and Vinales by KTM test rider Pol Espargaro.
A battered and bruised Bezzecchi is back for Phillip Island, and was fastest in Friday practice. However, he needs to serve a double long lap penalty on Sunday for causing the scary incident with Marquez.
Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez completed an RS-GP one-two on Friday, although VR46 Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio, in third, was tipped as perhaps having the best race pace.
Yamaha were also competitive, exceeding their expectations with both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins in the top six, either side of Alex Marquez.
Francesco Bagnaia suffered persistent shaking problems with one of his GP25s, but was able to secure direct Qualifying 2 access with ninth on the other machine.
Saturday’s schedule:
10:10am (local) / 00:10am (UK) - MotoGP FP2
10:50am (local) / 00:50am (UK) - MotoGP Qualifying
3:00pm (local) / 5:00am (UK) - MotoGP Sprint
Marco Bezzecchi struck a flock of seagulls on the warm-up lap of the Australian MotoGP sprint.
It was a moment that left him "pretty scared" at the time.
Read more ⬇️
Pol Espargaro was ninth in the sprint at the Australian MotoGP and has been in good form all weekend.
However, he admits he is struggling to adapt to 'race situations' he's not used to in testing.
Read more ⬇️
Alex Marquez faded from the early podium battle in the Phillip Island sprint as he rued his front tyre choice.
Read more ⬇️
Pecco Bagnaia endured his worst sprint finish of the season at the Australian Grand Prix in a performance he described as "humiliating".
Analysis of his pace reveals just how slow the Ducati rider was.
Read more ⬇️
Fabio Quartararo couldn't convert his pole position into a podium challenge on Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix.
He explains where his pace went ⬇️
Pedro Acosta has, on several occasions, thrown good results away with mistakes. But his podium in the Phillip Island sprint came as he works on "trying not to get nervous in important moments".
Read his thoughts ⬇️
Marco Bezzecchi will have a double long lap penalty to serve on Sunday in the Australian Grand Prix.
He has spent the weekend practicing it, but admits the long lap loop looks easier than it is.
"I hit a bird, unfortunately for him, especially."
— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) October 18, 2025
Marco Bezzecchi had a few flying obstacles to navigate on the warm-up lap 🪶#MotoGP | #AustralianGP Live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ pic.twitter.com/RiYajzDyIO
A tough #TissotSprint for Ducati who for the first time won't have a bike on the podium 👀#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/XW2Ga4KH9x
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 18, 2025
That's all from the track action today, but there is plenty still to come from the Phillip Island paddock.
Stay tuned for all of the reaction...
Marco Bezzecchi makes it back-to-back sprint wins for Aprilia after dominating at Phillip Island.
Read the full report ⬇️
"I hit a big bird, unfortunately for me - and him," Bezzecchi says in parc ferme.
Marco Bezzecchi wins the 2025 Australian MotoGP Sprint race by 3.149s from Raul Fernandez, an Aprilia one-two! Pedro Acosta is third for KTM.
Bagnaia finished 19th, a shocking 32.4s behind Bezzecchi.
Acosta again blocks into Lukey Heights, Miller takes a peek up the inside at the final corner but has to settle for 4th.
Pedro Acosta takes a defensive line into Miller corner, to keep Jack at bay, with Fabio di Giannantonio in the Australian's wheeltracks.
Last lap: Bezzecchi and Fernandez are 'safe' in 1st and 2nd but the battle for 3rd is raging.
Mandalika winner Fermin Aldeguer crashes out of 12th at Siberia.
4 to go and Marco Bezzecchi launches his victory pass into Turn 2. Can Fernandez respond?
5 laps to go: Raul Fernandez, Marco Bezzecchi - Pedro Acosta, Jack Miller, Alex Marquez, Fabio di Giannantonio, Fabio Quartararo - Pol Espargaro, Luca Marini, Joan Mir, Enea Bastianini, Fermin Aldeguer, Johann Zarco, Alex Rins, Miguel Oliveira...
8/13: Despite the damage, Bezzecchi has regrouped and is back on Fernandez's rear wheel. A move for the lead is looming.
Replays show the seagull strike at the start of the warm-up lap has left some, err, 'debris' lodged in the front aero of Bezzecchi's RS-GP.
Lap 7/13: Marco Bezzecchi almost collides with the back of race leader Raul Fernandez at Lukey Heights. The factory Aprilia rider runs wide and hands Fernandez a 1sec lead.
Bagnaia is dropping further and further down the order.
He's now in 20th place, after being passed by rookie Somkiat Chantra, with only stand-in team-mate Michele Pirro behind him.
Raul Fernandez is setting 1m 27.4s lap times, Bagnaia is setting 1m 31.7s.
