125: Cortese fastest at Phillip Island

Sandro Cortese made a perfect start to the Australian Grand Prix by being fastest in both 125cc free practice sessions at Phillip Island on Friday.

The Racing Team Germany Aprilia rider, who took his first victory at Brno this year, finished narrowly ahead of world championship leader Nico Terol in both sessions.

Aspar Aprilia star Terol, who has the first of three chances to win the final 125cc title this weekend, was 0.135sec behind Cortese in FP1, then 0.178sec in FP2.

Ajo Derbi's Johann Zarco, who finally claimed his first ever grand prix victory last time out in Japan, finished the day third quickest, 0.574sec from Cortese. Terol's young team-mate Adrian Martin was a better than usual fourth.

Terol leads the standings by 31 points from Zarco and will be champion if he can increase his advantage to 50-points on Sunday.

Friday practice (2):

1. Cortese (Aprilia) 1m 38.530s
2. Terol (Aprilia) +0.178s
3. Zarco (Derbi) +0.574s
4. Martin (Aprilia) +0.711s
5. Moncayo (Aprilia) +0.767s
6. Folger (Aprilia) +0.877s
7. Faubel (Aprilia) +1.032s
8. Kent (Aprilia) +1.116s
9. Salom (Aprilia) +1.123s
10. Vazquez (Derbi) +1.196s

14. Stafford (Aprilia) +2.616s
16. Webb (Mahindra) +2.852s
28. Mackenzie (Aprilia) +4.506s