Jorge Martin won the MotoGP Tissot Sprint race Saturday afternoon at Phillip Island, in Australia. Riding his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati on Michelin control tires, the World Championship point leader won the 13-lap race by 1.520 seconds.

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was the runner-up on his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP23.

Enea Bastianini finished third on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP24. 

His teammate and defending World Champion, Francesco Bagnaia got fourth. 

For the championship, Bagnaia is 16 points behind his principal rival Martin who has 404 points. M.Marquez is third with 320 points.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Martin sublime as Marquez and Bastianini stay in the fight. The Spaniard celebrates Tissot Sprint victory at Phillip Island, finishing ahead of Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini. 

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has extended his title advantage at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after an incredible Tissot Sprint. The #89 started from pole position and set a relentless pace before storming to glory. Martin crossed the line ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who charged to second after a tough start as Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed the final spot on the Sprint podium after a fantastic ride from 10th on the grid. ‘The Beast’ crossed the line ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia(Ducati Lenovo Team), who took fourth and now has a 16 point defect to Martin in the Championship.

Excitement filled the air as the lights went out, with Martin claiming the perfect launch from pole position, storming into the lead on the run to Turn 1. The #89 was leading with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Bagnaia in chase after the reigning World Champion secured a fantastic launch from P5 on the grid.

It was a tough start to the Sprint for Marc Marquez, dropping to eighth after the #93 ran wide at Turn 1. However, the eight-time World Champion began to claw back time, carving past Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), picking off Bastianini and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for P4.

Martin put the hammer down early, stretching a one-second lead to Bezzecchi, who was now under immense pressure from Bagnaia. The #1 made the move stick on Lap 4, charging into second while Bezzecchi was soon under pressure from the hard-charging Marc Marquez.

Positions continued to change, with Bezzecchi demoted to fourth as Marc Marquez set his sights on Bagnaia as the gap reduced at every sector before the #93 pounced on Lap 8. Bagnaia was unable to match the pace and soon dropped to fourth, with Bastianini finding a gap in his teammate’s armour and entering the podium rostrum.

Drama struck for Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), crashing on Lap 8 to the disappointment of the Australian crowd. The #43 was not the only rider to have a tough day, withJohann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also suffering crashes during the Sprint.

Meanwhile, Bezzecchi and Viñales continued an intense battle for fifth, with the #12 overtaking the Italian at the start of Lap 12. However, everything unfolded at Turn 1 as Bezzecchi and Viñales collided, and both riders crashed out. Binder’s hopes of points were also lost moments later as the South African lost the front at Turn 4.

Nobody could match Martin’s pace in the closing stages of the Sprint, allowing the #89 to charge to victory at Phillip Island. Martin crossed the line with a 1.520s advantage over the recovering Marc Marquez, who crossed the line in second and crucially ahead of Bastianini as the battle for third in the Championship continues.

Bagnaia crossed the line in fourth spot with some pace still to find for Sunday after losing further points to title rival Martin. Meanwhile, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) secured fifth, crossing the line ahead of Morbidelli in sixth. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) capped off a confidence-boosting Saturday, bagging seventh place and finishing ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing). The #41 claimed a strong finish as the final point of the day went the way of Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez.

After an intense Sprint, the action is not over in Phillip Island, make sure you join us for the Australian GP on Sunday at 14:00 local time (UTC +11) as Bagnaia sets his sights on redemption and Martin eyes a near-perfect weekend!

Fermin Aldeguer was the man to beat during Moto2 World qualifying Saturday at Phillip Island, in Australia. The Spaniard rider topped qualifying session with a new lap record time. Riding his Pirelli-shod Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro, Aldeguer navigated the 2.76-mile (4.4 km) course in 1:30.876, breaking his own’s 2023 All-Time Lap Record of 1:31.888.

Spanish veteran Aron Canet was second-best with a 1:31.072 on his Fantic Racing Kalex.

Aldeguer’s teammate, Alonso Lopez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:31.144. 

American Joe Roberts suffered a broken scaphoid on his right hand after a crash in today’s Practice 2 session. After assessment in the medical center, he has been declared unfit for the rest of the weekend.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Ivan Ortola earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Phillip Island, in Australia. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI KTM on Pirelli control tires, Ortola topped the 26-rider field with a lap time of 1:35.872

Colin Veijer was the best of the rest with a 1:35.996 on his Liqui Moly Intact GP Husqvarna, and Adrian Fernandez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:36.023 on his Leopard Racing Honda. 

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Ortola stuns with late Phillip Island pole, Alonso P10. The #48 has secured a third pole position on the bounce, starting alongside Veijer and Fernandez. 

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) continues an incredible qualifying form in 2024, storming to pole position at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The #48 claimed a third consecutive pole of the season after setting a late 1:35.872, improving on his final lap to start ahead of Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who bagged a front row start of a dramatic session. The Dutchman recovered well after an earlier crash at Turn 4, ending Q2 just 0.124s adrift from pole position. Meanwhile, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) was another rider who pulled off an incredible recovery battle from Q1 to P3.

Ortola shines in Australia

It was a wet start to Saturday’s action, with times improving from Friday and Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) once again topping the standings in tricky conditions as newly crowned Champion David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) suffered a crash at Turn 6 – rider OK. This led to an action-packed Q1, which saw home hero Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) reign supreme, securing a spot in Q2 alongside Fernandez, David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Honda Team Asia’s Taiyo Furusato.

It was a busy start to Q2, with Alonso pushing from the early laps with a train of riders behind. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) set an early benchmark in Q2, only to be bettered by Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA). This led to an intense final run, with home hero Kelso taking provisional P1 before a handful of riders responded and moved the goalpost further, allowing Ortola to claim a late pole position.

Alonso heads from P10

David Muñoz (BOE Motorsport) will head the second row of the grid in Australia, finding time on his final run after using the newly crowned Champion as a marker. The #64 briefly had provisional pole but will start ahead of Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing), who clocked an impressive time to place fifth ahead of Nepa in sixth.

Meanwhile, Kelso dropped to seventh at the flag after the Aussie was unable to improve further on his final lap. Kelso has a strong starting position for Sunday and will be joined by Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) and Furusato on the third row of the grid. However, it was a tough day for Alonso, qualifying in 10^th with work to do on Sunday as the #80 attempts to add to his win tally in 2024. Roulstone will also set sight on finding time from 13^th after qualifying ahead of teammate Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). 

Next up for Moto3™ at Phillip Island, it is time to go racing, with lights out at 11:00 local time (UTC +11) on Sunday!

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Martin produces late magic to clinch pole from Marc Marquez. The Spaniard has stormed to pole position at Phillip Island and will start alongside Marc Marquez and Maverick Viñales. 

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) has charged to pole position at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, delivering another magical lap – clocking a 1:27.296. Martin ends Q2 with a magnificent 0.594s advantage from the late-charging Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who improved on his final flying lap of the session, bagging a front-row start on his GP23. The eight-time World Champion has claimed a prime spot on the grid, starting alongside Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) after the #12 set a relentless pace at the start of Q2, which gifted Viñales a strong front row start.

Martin leaves it late

Saturday’s action began in tricky conditions, with Marc Marquez grabbing P1 after an extended 40 minute FP2 session, which saw the track continue to dry after a wet morning – setting the stage for an intense qualifying. Once Q1 got underway, there was drama from the onset, with a mix of wet and slick Michelin tyres fitted at the start of the session. Lap times tumbled as conditions improved, with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) timing his time attack to perfect and earning a Q2 spot alongside Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).

As Q2 clicked into gear, all 12 riders opted for slick tyres, with Martin leading the pack on the track and at the timesheets as Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantoniosuffered an early fall at Turn 1. Viñales soon became the rider to beat at the end of the first run, with pole position – as usual – being decided in the final five minutes. Martin soon laid a new benchmark, smashing into the low 1:27 bracket to snatch pole position at Phillip Island.

Bagnaia back in P5

Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will spearhead the second row of the grid, with the Italian unable to dip inside the 1:27 bracket. Bezzecchi continues a strong weekend and will start ahead of reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The #1 grabbed a late fifth, holding onto a second row start after Bagnaia was one of the final riders to start their second run. Rounding out the second row is Fernandez, who remarkably battled from Q1 to sixth.

Further back, Franco Morbidelli heads the third row of the grid, ending a strong session for the Prima Pramac Racing squad after finding time on his ninth lap. The #21 was comfortably ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who begins to set sights on a strong result in Australia from eighth on the grid. Alex Marquez starts alongside compatriot Alex Rins, who was the sole Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ rider in Q2, landing ninth on the rider.

There is work to do for the key names once the lights go out, with Bastianini unable to place higher than 10^th on the grid. It would also be a tough session for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, with Brad Binder heading from P11 and Jack Miller starting from 16^th after the Aussie was unable to find a way into Q2 at home. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) also has a challenge ahead, starting from P15 after a tough end to Q1.

Saturday’s action does not stop here! Join us for an unmissable Tissot Sprint as the world’s most exciting sport returns for what could prove to be a pivotal battle at 15:00 local time (UTC +11)!