Marc Marquez won the MotoGP World Championship race Sunday at Phillip Island, in Australia. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP23 on Michelin control tires, the six-time MotoGP World Champion won the 27-lap race by 0.997-second.

World Championship point leader, Jorge Martin was the runner-up on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici.

Two-time and defending World Champion, Francesco Bagnaia placed third on his Lenovo Team Ducati.

Fabio Di Giannantonio took fourth on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati.

Bagnaia’s teammate, Enea Bastianini, crossed the finish line fifth.

For the championship, Bagnaia is 20 points behind his principal rival Martin, who has 424 points. M.Marquez is third with 345 points.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Duel Down Under: Marquez vs Martin lights up the Island. The #93 took victory at Phillip Island, defeating Jorge Martin in an intense duel while Bagnaia secured third.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) is victorious at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after a stunning duel Down Under. The #93 claiming Grand Prix win number three of the season after a phenomenal ride from the eight-time World Champion, digging deep when needed and locking horns with title leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). The #89 crossed the line second best on Sunday, in what could be an important day in the title race as the Spaniard extends his Championship lead to 20 points after defeating title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian crossed the line in third, unable to match the pace of the leaders and bringing home a further 16 points.

Once the lights went out, it was an incredible launch from Martin, converting pole position into a comfortable margin at the end of the first lap. The #89 was ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who had a Long Lap penalty to serve in the opening laps.

However, the main headlines at the start came from Marquez after a tear-off caused his GP23 to wheelspin off the line, dropping down the order and leaving the #93 with plenty of work to do. The eight-time World Champion began to gain positions straight away, carving his way to the top five before storming into podium contention after a brave move on Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) on Lap 5.

Bezzecchi served his Long Lap on Lap 4 before, dropping to seventh before everything unfolded one lap later as the #72 crashed out at Turn 4. It was a critical mistake from the Italian, ending hopes of scoring solid points on Sunday.

Martin’s lead began to reduce, with Bagnaia and Marc Marquez clawing back time in every sector. The #89 ran wide at Turn 1 on Lap 12, allowing Bagnaia to make his first attempt to pass the current Championship leader. Martin responded one corner later, dropping Bagnaia to third with a three-way battle on our hands.

Further back, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued to make up ground after a tough qualifying, duelling with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for the final spot inside the top five. ‘The Beast’ continued to claw back time, launching a move on Morbidelli on Lap 20 to enter P4.

Bagnaia began to drop back, losing ground to Martin, who continued to fend off Marc Marquez. Tension was building, with the eight-time World Champion launching an attack on Lap 24, taking the lead for the first time on the exit of Turn 4. The battle ignited, with Martin responding – using the slipstream to fight back at Turn 1.

Marc Marquez was not done yet, charging back into P1 at Turn 4 with a firm move that proved to be crucial. It was a blockbuster finish to the Australian Grand Prix, with Martin showing a front wheel at Turn 2 – unable to make the move stick.

On the final lap, Marc Marquez held firm, securing victory at Phillip Island after a breathtaking fight with Martin. The #89 crossed the line 0.997s behind, crucially extending his title advantage to Bagnaia, with the #1 only able to bag third.

Securing a late fourth was the fighting fit Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who bravely battled with Bastianini. ‘The Beast’ was able to finish inside the top five, charging from P10 on the grid in a positive day after finishing ahead of Morbidelli, who denied Binder P6 by 0.016s. The South African was able to bag seventh, finishing as the top Pierer Mobility rider and beating Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), with the #12 grabbing P8.

Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) secured another remarkable top 10 finish, taking the flag in ninth and finishing ahead of Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing). Further back, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) scored points at home after finishing ahead of Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), as the Frenchman claimed 12^th. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) capped off a solid end to Round 17 as Gresini Racing MotoGP™’s Alex Marquez took the final point after serving a Long Lap penalty.

After an incredible duel Down Under, make sure you join us as the world’s most exciting sport heads to the technical Chang International Circuit, which plays host to Round 18 of the season for the Thai GP!

Fermin Aldeguer won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Phillip Island, in Australia. Riding his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard won the 23-lap race by 0.194-second.

Aron Canet was the runner-up on his Fantic Racing Kalex.

The Australian Senna Agius finished his home GP third on his Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Kalex. 

Championship point leader Ai Ogura finished fourth on his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro.

American Joe Roberts sat out the race after being declared unfit with a wrist injury suffered in practice.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Aldeguer takes the spoils as Agius achieves dream podium at home. The #54 denied Aron Canet victory after a breathtaking battle as Senna Agius secured a maiden podium at home. 

Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) celebrates glory at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after an incredible ride and breathtaking last lap duel. The Spaniard converted pole position to P1 on Sunday, defeating Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), who could only manage second in an instant classic. The #44 showed a relentless pace throughout, finishing ahead of home hero Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who bagged his first-ever Grand Prix podium at home round.

It was a brilliant launch from Canet, earning a comfortable margin as the field roared to Turn 1. However, the #44’s advantage did not last long as Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) threw down an early gauntlet, stealing the lead on the opening lap. It was an impressive launch from the #21 as the front group began to set a relentless pace.

Further back, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed out at Turn 2, bringing an early end to their weekend on the opening lap. Zonta Van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) soon suffered a similar fate, falling at Turn 10 in the opening stages.

The front group soon shrank to three riders as Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) served a Long Lap penalty. The #18 would slot into P5 behind Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI), who could have mathematically wrapped up the title this weekend. Ogura was at the head of a huge second group, with home hero Agius finding a way through the #79 and setting sights on a career-best finish.

It was an intense fight at the front, with the leaders clocking a qualifying-like pace at the front as Aldeguer had his turn at the front. The #54 was looking to convert pole position into a Grand Prix victory as he eked out just half a second of a gap to Canet as Lopez began to drop back, unable to match the hot pace.

However, the pendulum began to swing again as Canet launched an attack, snatching P1 on Lap 17. The lead continued to change, with Aldeguer responding on Lap 21 as a Moto2™ showdown looked to be on the cards, to the delight of the Australian crowd.

The closing stages delivered drama by the bucketload, with Lopez crashing at Turn 4 – promoting Agius into P3. Meanwhile, Canet and Aldeguer continue to battle, with Aldeguer launching a firm move at Turn 10, allowing the #54 to secure victory. Aldeguer crossed the line ahead of rival Canet, with Agius securing a maiden podium.

Fourth place went the way of Ogura, unable to match the pace of the podium runners after an intense battle with Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) in the closing laps. Ogura pipped the Brazilian by 0.012s in yet another photo finish as Round 16 winner Gonzalez finished sixth after serving his Long Lap. Meanwhile, RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP’s Barry Baltus took an incredible seventh-place finish after crossing the line a further 0.033s behind. The #7 had another strong finish, with Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) rounding out the top eight spots.

Further back, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) dropped to fourth in the standings after a ninth-place finish at Phillip Island, beating Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) in 10^th. Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team’s Jeremy Alcoba was 11^th, finishing in front of Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Albert Arenas (Gresini Moto2™) as Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia’s Mario Aji took the final points in Australia.

After an unforgettable finish and fairytale podium for home favourites, make sure you join us in just one week as Moto2™ returns for the legendary Thai GP with the World Championship yet to be decided!

The 2024 Moto3 World Champion, David Alonso won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Phillip Island, in Australia. Aboard his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO, the Colombian won the 21-lap race by 2.936 seconds.

Spaniard Daniel Holgado was the runner-up on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3 machine. 

Adrian Fernandez crossed the finish line third on his Leopard Racing Honda. 

Classification Moto3 race and worldstanding

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Alonso’s momentum grows as Holgado grabs P2 at Phillip Island. The Colombian has secured a historic 11th victory of the season after beating Holgado and Fernandez in Australia. 

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) is victorious at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, pulling off a Phillip Island masterclass from P10 on the grid. The Colombian battled hard, building a comfortable lead in the closing stages to win by 2.936s and equal Valentino Rossi with 11 wins in a single season in the lightweight class. Alonso took victory over Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with the Spaniard charging from P14 on the grid to claim a photo finish podium. Holgado took second, beating Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) by a mere 0.003s.

Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) made an incredible launch from pole position, but a mistake at Turn 2 allowed David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) to take an early lead as the #48 dropped to second. It was a frantic start, with moves being made at every opportunity as Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) soon attacked on Lap 2, taking the lead for the first time at home.

Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) had a tough task ahead, with the #82 forced to serve a double Long Lap during the Grand Prix. Nepa made an incredible start, taking the lead briefly before serving his first Long Lap on Lap 2 before serving the second on Lap 4 – dropping back to 19^th.

Meanwhile, a huge group began to form at the front, with newly crowned Champion Alonso soon entering P1 for the first time. Slipstream proved to be vital at Phillip Island, with Holgado entering the podium battle after a challenging qualifying caused the Spaniard to start from the fifth row of the grid.

There would be further back drama for some key contenders as Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Ortola crashed out at Turn 4. It was a disappointing end to the weekend for the #48, who was forced to retire as Veijer remounted in the hopes of a point-scoring finish. The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards investigated the incident with no further action taken.

Alonso remained in control at the front until a mistake on Lap 14 dropped the #80 to third, with Muñoz and Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) now glued to his tailpipe. Yamanaka began to duel with Alonso as Fernandez spearheaded the field in P1.

It was building to be yet another showstopping finish at Phillip Island, with Alonso setting sights on an 11^th victory of the season. The Colombian put the hammer down with three laps remaining, eking out a gap to the group behind and showing his true pace. Nobody could come close, allowing Alonso to continue to make history as Holgado and Fernandez completed the podium.

Fourth place was taken by Nepa, who had a race full of ups and downs, claiming fourth position at the line after successfully serving his double Long Lap. Meanwhile, Muñoz rounded out the top five places, securing a strong finish in Australia after a breathtaking finish. Yamanaka would cross the line in sixth, finishing as the sole MT Helmets – MSI rider and crossing the line ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in eighth.

Meanwhile, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top 10 as Kelso could only manage 11^th at home. The Aussie took further points, with Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) taking the flag in 12^th as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Jacob Roulstone completed a strong weekend in 13^th. Meanwhile, Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) finished ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who took the final point on Sunday.

After an incredible weekend at Phillip Island, we now head to the technical Chang International Circuit for the Thai GP in just one week!