A Marc Marquez masterclass ensured to top the timesheets at the final MotoGP practice session at Phillip Island. The Spaniard adapted well to the tricky and interchangeable conditions.
The Gresini rider was in a class of his own and produced a banker lap of 1.35.325s, a whole 0.875s quicker than second-placed finisher Maverick Vinales.
After the Moto2 practice concluded, the weather was clear but extremely windy, which prevented riders from extracting the maximum from their bikes.
The extremely wet weather conditions during the earlier junior class practice sessions meant that MotoGP riders were still searching for the optimal setup ahead of the qualifying session that was set to begin shortly after.
Unsurprisingly, Marquez, renowned for mastering interchangeable conditions, was the fastest rider at the start of the session, lapping nearly half a second quicker than the rest of the field.
The Spaniard continued to set the fastest laps, and with 25 minutes left on the clock, he produced a lap time over a second clear of the rest of the field.
Takaaki Nakagami continued on the track and the racing line despite his engine blowing up and ignoring a mechanical flag. Still, he was lucky not to spill any oil on the track.
The track continued to dry, with riders able to set the fastest sector times in the opening stages, but the Gresini rider’s dominance in the damper second and third sectors saw him maintain top spot.
Championship protagonists Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin improved on Marquez’s lap time, but the Spaniard re-claimed top spot.
While Marquez occupied the top two spots, 2023 Phillip Island winner Johann Zarco surprised everyone by taking third place in the final classification aboard his LCR Honda.
Pramac’s Martin salvaged fourth spot with Gresini having both riders finish in the top five.
Fabio Quartararo finished sixth, ahead of VR46 Academy graduates Marco Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.
Pedro Acosta occupied ninth spot and finished the session as lead KTM rider, with his 2025 team-mate Brad Binder and current stable-mate Augusto Fernandez following behind.
Enea Bastianini, who will feature in Q1 in qualifying shortly after the last practice session, finished in 12th ahead of Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez.
Luca Marini delivered 14th for Repsol Honda with fellow countryman Franco Morbidelli ending his final practice session in 15th.
Hometown hero Jack Miller was placed 16th in the final classification, ahead of Alex Rins and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Joan Mir struggled and could only manage 19th place, with Lorenzo Savadori and Aleix Espargaro struggling for Aprilia.
Nakagami’s torrid mistakes from earlier saw him finish last in the final classification.
