05:00
The grid clears and the warm-up lap gets underway.
Marco Bezzecchi, 2025 Australian MotoGP
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2025 Australian MotoGP, Phillip Island: Sprint reaction - LIVE
Live updates from Saturday’s qualifying and Sprint race at the 2025 Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.
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
18 Oct 2025
05:04
Raul Fernandez leads
A dramatic start sees Fabio Quartararo initially get a good jump but then appear to wheelie and Jack Miller shot into the lead.
Moments later, Alex Marquez burst past from the second row to take the holeshot in the braking zone of Turn 1, with Raul Fernandez also following the Gresini rider through and leading after the opening corners.
05:02
Tyres
All riders on the soft rear, a mix of hard and medium fronts.
05:02
Seagull drama!
Several riders look to strike a flock of seagulls as they leave the grid, including Marco Bezzecchi. Let's hope there was no damage.
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04:57
Five minutes to the race start. We're still waiting for official confirmation of the tyre choices, which will be issued by Michelin once it's too late for any changes.
04:55
Perhaps the biggest dark horses are on rows 2 and 3: What can Raul Fernandez, Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez, then Fermin Aldeguer, Pol Espargaro and Luca Marini do?
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04:54
After two poor starts at Mandalika, then a big accident with Marc Marquez later on the opening lap of the grand prix, Marco Bezzecchi will be hoping for a smoother getaway from second on the grid.
04:52
Jack Miller's Pramac team manager Gino Borsoi says a top five will be a great result, as they seek to gather data for tomorrow.
The Yamahas were struggling with releasing their ride-height device into the fast Turn 1 on Friday, but seemed to have fixed the issue.
However, releasing the holeshot devices will be a factor for all riders at the start of the Sprint.
04:49
Home hero Jack Miller is already sitting on his Pramac Yamaha on the front row in third. He's the first Australian to qualify on the front at Phillip Island since Casey Stoner.
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04:47
Gresini's Michele Masini confirms that Alex Marquez is okay after his fast crash in qualifying. He's the top Ducati rider in sixth, with Mandalika winning team-mate Fermin Aldeguer one place behind.
04:45
Cool but bright and dry weather for the 13-lap Sprint, after a wet start to the day.
04:37
The Sprint Grid
Row 1: Fabio Quartararo (pole), Marco Bezzecchi, Jack Miller
Row 2: Raul Fernandez, Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez
Row 3: Fermin Aldeguer, Pol Espargaro, Luca Marini
Row 4: Fabio di Giannantonio, Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Rins
Row 5: Brad Binder, Joan Mir, Johann Zarco
Row 6: Miguel Oliveira, Franco Morbidelli, Ai Ogura
Row 7: Lorenzo Savadori, Enea Bastianini, Somkiat Chantra
Row 8: Michele Pirro
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04:37
The build-up to this afternoon's Sprint race begins, we're expecting all riders to choose the soft rear tyre for the 13-lap encounter, probably with most on the medium front but some on the hard.
A reminder that the penalties - a double long lap for Marco Bezzecchi and 3-place grid drop for Francesco Bagnaia and Brad Binder - will not apply to today's race.
03:56
Australian MotoGP Starting Grids: Sprint & GP
Here is the starting grid for Saturday's Sprint and the revised grid for Sunday's Australian MotoGP, after the penalties:
03:24
Australian MotoGP penalties for Francesco Bagnaia, Brad Binder
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02:00
News: Weather forces change of start time for the 2025 Australian MotoGP
01:36
Australian MotoGP: Qualifying Results
01:32
Miller makes it two Yamahas on the front row
Jack Miller was in danger of being pushed off the front row by Quartararo's lap, but the Pramac rider also delivers to take 3rd behind Bezzecchi.
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01:31
Quartararo pole!
Fabio Quartararo delivers more of his qualifying magic to leap from 10th to pole!
01:29
Bezzecchi improves again, he's now 0.378s clear of Pedro Acosta.
01:28
Crash
Alex Marquez has his second accident of the session, this time a very fast lowside into Turn 1. That's his session over. He's currently in 4th.
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01:28
Bezzecchi delivers! He blasts 0.3s clear of Pedro Acosta for pole position with 2mins to go. Miller still on the front row in 3rd.
01:25
Jack Miller runs off on his out lap ahead of the final run, but rejoins without issue.
01:24
Investigation
The FIM Stewards are investigating the Bezzecchi-Marini-Bagnaia incident at Miller Corner.
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01:23
Halfway through Qualifying 2, the pressure is on Bezzecchi:
- Jack Miller
- Fermin Aldeguer
- Pol Espargaro
- Raul Fernandez
- Luca Marini
- Fabio di Giannantonio
- Fabio Quartararo
- Alex Marquez
- Pedro Acosta
- Francesco Bagnaia
- Marco Bezzecchi
- Alex Rins
