MotoGP Round 17 Report | Marquez masterclass, Agius Podium Phillip Island

MotoGP Round 17 Report | Marquez masterclass at the Island Nightmare start, dream end, as the #93 charged through and got the gloves off to beat Martin, with Bagnaia doing some damage limitation in third. Senna Agius on the podium in Moto2… Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP Pics: Brett Butler

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP Round 17 Report

After a washout in FP1 (although an entertaining one at that), thankfully the weather gods played nicely in the afternoon to allow the MotoGP™ riders a full 60 minutes of dry running around the phenomenal Phillip Island. And leading the way into Saturday was Marc Marquez, who beat brother and Gresini Racing MotoGP™ teammate Alex Marquez by 0.102s, as Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) made it a Ducati GP23 1-2-3 on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) ended Day 1 in P4 and P5 to sail safely into Q2.

Read our Round 16 MotoGP Report here…

As qualifying laps go, that was about as good as it gets from Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). In drying, tricky conditions at Phillip Island, the World Championship leader slung a scintillating 1:27.296 on the board to claim pole position at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix by a hefty 0.594s. That was his third pole on the spin Down Under. Not even the might of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) could get within half a second of his compatriot, and third place Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) acted as the only other rider to set a time that was under a second away.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) had to settle for a P5 grid slot for the Tissot Sprint and GP to give Martin’s closest title rival work to do on Saturday and Sunday.

Check out the full qualifying results here…

Moto2

Following a wet Free Practice session in the morning, Phillip Island’s newly resurfaced layout dried out towards the end of Moto2™ and coming out on top was Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp). The Spaniard set a 1:32.718 to beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by a couple of tenths and teammate Alonso Lopez by three tenths to head into Saturday as the rider to catch. Japanese GP winner Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) completed a top five split by just under six seconds.

For the first time since the Dutch GP, Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) claimed pole position – and in some fashion too. A final lap stormer on the Island saw the Spaniard set a sensational new all-time lap record, a 1:30.876, to beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) by 0.196s as third place went the way of Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp).

Moto3 Round 17 Report

Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) ended his first day riding the amazing Phillip Island at the top of the timesheets – and by some margin too. The rookie, in the damp but thankfully sunny conditions, was 1.042s clear of David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) after setting a 1:44.949, as Adrian Fernandez made it two Leopard Racing Hondas in the top three. For the third weekend in a row, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) started from pole position after a very late 1:35.872 handed the #48 a Saturday afternoon P1 at Phillip Island. The fight for the front row went down to the wire as both Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) – despite a crash – and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) left it until their final flying laps to earn from row starts in P2 and P3.

David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) was on provisional pole as the chequered flag waved but the #44 was shoved back to P4 by the end of the session. Home hero Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) would launch from P7 despite sitting in P1 in the closing stages of Q2.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint MotoGP Round 17 Report

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) extended his title advantage at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix after a stunning Tissot Sprint performance. The #89 started from pole and set a relentless pace, crossing the line clear of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who recovered to second after a tough start. Martin bagged the perfect launch from pole, 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, too.

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 a fast-starting 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 coming under immense pressure from Bagnaia. The #1 made the move stick on Lap 4, slicing up 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 moved up to set his sights on Bagnaia. The gap reduced through every sector before the #93 pounced on Lap 8. After that, Bagnaia was unable to match the pace and soon dropped to fourth, with Bastianini finding a gap in his teammate’s armour and muscling his way past too.

Meanwhile, Bezzecchi and Viñales continued an intense battle for fifth, with the #12 overtaking the Italian at the start of Lap 12. However, everything came undone at Turn 1 as Bezzecchi and Viñales collided into the braking area, both riders sliding off into the gravel in a plume of dust. Viñales was passed fit and Bezzecchi had no fractures, but the Italian was sent to undergo a full check in Melbourne. In a very different crash but another bout of drama, Binder’s hopes of points were then also lost moments later as the South African lost the front at Turn 4.

Back at the front though, nobody could match Martin’s pace in the closing stages of the Sprint. The #89 crossed the line with a 1.520s advantage over the charging Marc Marquez, who clinched second ahead of Bastianini as the battle for third in the Championship continued. They also both just stay in contention, mathematically.

Bagnaia crossed the line in fourth spot with some pace still to find for Sunday after losing further points to title rival Martin. Meanwhile, Morbidelli secured a positive fifth, finishing in front of a best Sprint result for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who capped off a confidence-boosting Saturday after bagging sixth ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).

“Today, I thought it was going to be much more difficult with Marc close behind me, but I was trying to keep a really fast pace. When I saw I had a big gap I started to manage a bit to make it until the end. It wasn’t easy, the wind was a lot, so finally winning again … I’m so happy.” Said Martin.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati
Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+1.520s)
Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (+4.368s)
Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+6.879s)
Franco Morbidelli Pramac Ducati (+9.623s)

Sunday
MotoGP Round 17 Report

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) went toe-to-toe at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, escaping to create an epic showdown at the front and duelling through the final four laps – split by less than a second over the line. Marquez came out on top despite dropping back after a nightmare start, with the #93 stalking the #89 through the latter stages before making his attack and making it stick. In the title fight, Martin’s second place nevertheless sees him increase his lead by four points, with key rival and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the podium at a distance on Sunday.

The drama was immediate as Marquez’s rear wheel spun up a cloud of smoke off the line, a tear off trapped under the rear tyre which was then unceremoniously ejected as he dropped the clutch. That allowed the Gresini machine to quickly take off and slot back into the fight, but the kerfuffle – and a great start from the #89 – saw Martin streak away to take the holeshot ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with Bagnaia up into third early on as he threaded the needle past Marquez’s drama. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) was in P4, with another stunning launch from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the South African into fifth from P11.

Behind, in no time at all Marquez was somehow already attacking Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) to move back into sixth, and after a tango at Turn 4 the #93 made it through. From there, he was on a mission. Next was Binder, and the gap to the South African was gone in a couple of laps. Then it was Morbidelli and with 22 to go into Turn 1, Marquez was through and into the podium places. Now, the clear air to his 2025 teammate was the target as the #1 continued to hold race leader Martin within around half a second.

By 16 to go, a small mistake from the Championship leader made it a six-wheeler at the front, the three machines glued together: Martin, Bagnaia and Marquez. Bagnaia wasted no time as he attacked at Turn 3 and made it through, but Martin hit back at Turn 4. That opened the door enough for Marquez to head through too, resetting it to Martin – Marquez – Bagnaia in that order at the front.

With 13 to go, the #1 and the #93 set identical laps, and less than a tenth off race leader Martin. With all on the soft tyre and plenty of kilometres to go, the chess game seemed out in full force but the Jaws music was starting to fade in from Marquez. Next time round, he was right on the back of the Pramac ahead. 10 laps to go, two tenths between two riders, and one second back to the reigning Champion. Then 1.9. It was becoming a duel Down Under, and the tension simmered away lap by lap before a final four to remember.

Four to go, Martin left the door just enough ajar at Turn 4 and there was no second invitation needed as Marquez sliced past. Into Turn 1 with three to go, Martin returned the favour. At Turn 4, Marquez did the same once more, and sent both just wide enough for the gloves to now clearly be off. No contact, and they just about stayed on track away from the green, but it was a lunge. If it was designed to create some metres of clear air in the lead it didn’t quite work as they stayed stuck together split by 0.111 over the line, but the #93 was now pushing hard.

This time at Turn 1, there was no gap. Martin tried to make one at Turn 2 but no dice, and around three Marquez started to make some metres. By the start of the final lap, the #93 was half a second clear, and gaining himself just enough breathing space to call that a third win of the year. Bagnaia couldn’t quite find enough to go with the duo in the lead once they’d broken away, but kept it tidy in third for a very valuable 16-point haul, keeping the deficit at 20 points with a maximum of 111 still to race for.

In the fight behind the podium, Bastianini dropped back before picking his way forward again, with Binder, Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) for company in a tight fight. By the flag though it was two duels. Diggia took fourth from Bastianini by three tenths, and behind them it was a near photo-finish for sixth as Morbidelli and Binder crossed the line split by just 0.016. Viñales was forced to settle for eighth.

Another group fought it out behind that one, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) rising to the fore there. The Frenchman stormed up from P18 on the grid to take ninth and another top ten, denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) and home hero Jack Miller.

“I thought at one time it was impossible to catch Martin, but by lap five or six, I started to get the rhythm. It’s true that Martin pushed all the race, but I was saving the tyre for the last attack,” Marquez reflected.

MotoGP Race Results

Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati
Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (+0.997s)
Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+10.100s)
Fabio Di Giannantonio VR46 Ducati (+12.997s)
Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (+13.310s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati – 424
Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 404
Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati – 345
Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo – 331
Brad Binder Red Bull KTM – 192

Moto2

A Moto2™ last-lap battle for the ages? You bet. Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) with a Turn 10 move to see the Spaniard stand on the top step of the rostrum for the first time since the German GP as the compatriots treated us to a belter.

What’s more, third place went the way of home hero Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Australian earned a debut Grand Prix podium in front of his adoring Phillip Island fans, while Championship leader Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) strengthened his grip on the title with a P4 finish. A lead quartet rapidly formed at the front as Aldeguer, Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp), Canet and Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) broke clear in the opening laps, before Gonzalez’s Long Lap penalty saw him drop into the clutches of the chasing pack that was led by title-hunting Ogura.

By Lap 10, the leading trio were 4.3s clear of Ogura, local favourite Agius, Gonzalez and Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) but at the same time, Aldeguer was beginning to pull the pin. 0.6s was the Spaniard’s advantage over Canet, but with limited dry track time over the weekend, there was a long way to go and tyre life would be crucial. The battle for P4 was bubbling up nicely too. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) made it a six-rider scrap, with Agius holding P4 with 11 laps left.

With eight laps to go, Lopez had lost touch and it was now between Aldeguer and Canet for the win. 0.6s was the gap between the duo and both were lapping consistently in the 1:30s, a good four tenths faster than anyone else on circuit. Then, with seven laps to go, Canet carved past at Turn 10 to lead. Four to go. There was nothing to split Canet and Aldeguer, and it was as you were with three laps remaining. However, at Turn 4 on Lap 21 of 23, Canet was wide to allow Aldeguer through. Then, four seconds later, Lopez was down at the same corner! This promoted Agius to P3 and with less than three laps to go, an Australian was on the podium in Phillip Island.

Last lap time! Aldeguer held a 0.3s lead over Canet and Agius was 1.2s ahead of Ogura in the race for a rostrum. From miles back, Canet lunged at Turn 4 and made a move stick. How would Aldeguer respond? The answer came at Turn 10. Aldeguer was late on the anchors and parked it up the inside of Canet, as contact – minimal though – was made when the latter tried closing the door. Both were wide. It was harsh, but it was fair. Aldeguer made it stick and held it on the run to the line to win by 0.194s as rookie Agius claimed a dream debut podium – and there’s no better place to do it too.

Further back, Ogura’s P4 saw the Japanese rider extend his Championship lead to 65 ahead of Thailand, where a top five finish will see him collect the 2024 Moto2™ crown. Ogura pipped Moreira on the run to the line by 0.012s to see the Brazilian finish P5.

Moto2 Race Results

Fermin Aldeguer Beta Tools Speed Up
Aron Canet Fantic Racing (+0.194s)
Senna Agius Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP (+7.228s)
Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI (+8.385s)
Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+8.397s)

Moto2 Championship Points

Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI – 241
Aron Canet Fantic Racing – 176
Fermin Aldeguer Beta Tools Speed Up – 175
Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI – 175
Alonso Lopez Beta Tools Speed Up – 163

Moto3

Another race, another David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) masterclass. The 2024 World Champion broke clear in the closing stages to win for the 11th time this season, which drew the #80 level with Valentino Rossi’s lightweight class single-season victory record with three races to go – and there was a special throwback celebration to go with it too. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) got a magical launch from pole position and easily collected the holeshot into Doohan Corner but Turn 2 saw David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) carve his way into P1. Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA) then demoted Ortola to P3 at Turn 4, as home hero Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) made a lively start to get stuck into the podium mix from Lap 1.

On Lap 2, Nepa led but the Italian dived into the Long Lap penalty loop – the first of two – which handed Kelso the lead. But, as expected, the lead changed at a rapid rate of knots as the top 13 were suddenly separated by 1.4s – and that became the top 14 as Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) joined the party. A couple of laps later, it became a front group of 17. Nepa had completed his two Long Lap penalties and was part of the podium scrap, as Kelso – after contact in the group – dropped to the back of the pack in P17.

With 10 to go, two of the top four in the World Championship then crashed together at Turn 4. Ortola and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) were down after the Dutch rider clipped Angel Piqueras, which saw him crash and collect Ortola. Both riders were OK, but that was a dent to their hopes of claiming P2 in the World Championship.

That left us with a 30-wheeler fight at the front heading into the final eight laps. Plenty of jostling continued in the following laps as Alonso led the way with four laps remaining, and the group was beginning to stretch. The top four – Alonso, Muñoz, Fernandez and Holgado – were 1.3s up the road from the chasers, so it looked like it was a four-way fight for the win. Or was it? Because now, Alonso was 0.6s up the road on the harder rear tyre.

The World Champion had checked out. Heading onto the final lap, Alonso was 1.7s clear as a fierce fight for second unravelled. It was Fernandez from Muñoz and Holgado heading onto the home straight, with Nepa and a few others not far behind either. And it was a drag race won by Holgado by 0.003s. Fernandez held onto P3 by 0.018s, the impressive Nepa pinched P4 as Muñoz slipped to P5. But the plaudits, once again, went the way of the incredible Alonso.

11 wins in a season matches Valentino Rossi’s 1997 lightweight class record, as the Colombian also became the first rider to win four lightweight class races in a row since Marc Marquez. Those aren’t bad names to etch your name alongside, are they? Elsewhere, Yamanaka collected P6 ahead of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and 10th place Piqueras, as Kelso had to settle for P11 on home turf.

Moto3 Race Results