Hold onto your helmets, folks! Marco Bezzecchi just obliterated the Phillip Island lap record, setting a blistering pace that has everyone talking. His incredible performance on Friday has put Aprilia in the spotlight, and the competition is already feeling the heat. But what exactly went down, and what does this mean for the rest of the weekend? Let's dive in!
Bezzecchi, riding his Aprilia, clocked an unbelievably fast 1:26.492, leaving the rest of the MotoGP field in his dust. This stunning lap time not only secured him the top spot for Saturday's action at the Liqui Moly Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix but also reset the track's all-time lap record. And, to add insult to injury for the competition, his closest rival was another Aprilia rider, Raul Fernandez, who finished in second place. Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top three, showcasing Ducati's strength, while Fermin Aldeguer, a recent race winner, unfortunately missed the cut for automatic Q2.
Here's how the practice session unfolded:
From the get-go, there were challenges. Francesco Bagnaia, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider, faced some issues with his primary bike and had to switch to his second one. However, once on his alternate machine, Bagnaia quickly found his rhythm, climbing into the top five. Early in the session, Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta were setting the pace, but Di Giannantonio soon took the lead with a lap of 1:27.483. Acosta then had a minor crash, which briefly interrupted his session. As the clock ticked down, the intensity increased.
Jack Miller, the home hero on his Prima Pramac Yamaha, made a significant leap up the leaderboard, briefly taking the top spot. However, Bezzecchi wasn't about to let that stand, responding with a blistering lap of 1:27.099, and then, the record-breaking 1:26.580. 'Have that!' he seemed to be saying to the competition.
Fabio Quartararo, also known as 'El Diablo,' secured a spot for Monster Energy Yamaha, with his teammate Alex Rins ahead of fourth-fastest Fernandez. This reshuffle meant Bagnaia found himself outside the top 10. Alex Marquez, another BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP rider, moved into third, splitting the factory Yamahas. With just minutes remaining, Bagnaia was still outside the top 10, but a personal best lap propelled him into seventh, eventually settling in eighth as Pol Espargaro, Maverick Viñales' stand-in, squeezed into the Q2 spots.
But the best was yet to come. Bezzecchi, not content with his earlier record, went even faster, posting a mind-blowing 1:26.492. Fernandez then made it an Aprilia 1-2, getting within three-tenths of the leader. All eyes then turned to Aldeguer, who was in eleventh place, trying to secure a spot in the top 10. He came agonizingly close, missing out by a mere 0.005 seconds and will have to battle through Q1.
The Australian GP Top 10:
With Aprilia dominating the day, the question on everyone's mind is, can anyone catch Bezzecchi in qualifying? Fernandez secured a strong second place, with Di Giannantonio in third. Quartararo was the fastest Yamaha in fourth, and Alex Marquez completed the top five. Rins, Luca Marini, and Espargaro also had impressive results. Bagnaia finished in ninth, while Acosta just managed to hold onto tenth.
Looking Ahead to Saturday:
Q1 is shaping up to be a fierce competition, with Aldeguer, Brad Binder, Miller, Joan Mir, and Johann Zarco all vying for a spot in the pole position shootout. It's going to be an exciting day on the island!
But here's where it gets controversial... Could Bezzecchi's dominance be a sign of things to come, or will the other riders step up their game? And is Aprilia's early success a fluke, or are they the team to beat this weekend? What do you think?
I'm curious to hear your thoughts! Do you think Bezzecchi can maintain this pace? Who are your picks for the podium? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below!
