MARQUEZ WINS PHILLIP ISLAND SPRINT AS MARTIN CRASHES, TAKES TITLE LEAD

Marc Marquez turned a rain-hit Saturday at Phillip Island into pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, recovering from an early Q2 crash to set a best time of 1m 34.203s aboard the factory Ducati. He beat brother Alex by almost 1.5 seconds, with Johann Zarco completing the front row for LCR Honda. It was Marquez’s 78th career pole and his largest qualifying margin in seven years.

The reigning champion had already set the pace in final practice as the circuit gradually dried after heavy morning rain. Qualifying remained wet and changeable. Jack Miller and Zarco advanced from Q1, with Miller edging the Frenchman by 0.001 seconds. Marquez crashed at Turn 4 on his opening Q2 lap, but switched to his spare Ducati and set the fastest time with six minutes remaining. “You cannot crash on the first lap because it means you don't have a lap time,” he said. “So I did a big mistake in that Turn 4.” He added that the team had the other bike ready and that his final lap was “a good lap”.

Zarco briefly took the lead before Marquez responded. Alex described the shifting weather as “really stressful”, but said he was pleased to reach the front row. Zarco also called the morning “very stressful”, explaining that riders had to keep weighing up tyre choices as conditions changed.

Marquez converted pole into victory in the 13-lap Sprint, moving ten points clear in the championship after a fierce duel with Jorge Martin. The track was dry at the start despite rain returning beforehand, and all riders chose slicks. Martin passed Marc several times, with the pair trading the lead, before Martin crashed at high speed at Turn 8 on lap eight. He was taken to the Medical Centre for checks and later ruled out of Sunday’s Grand Prix with a wrist fracture.

Marquez held on to win by 0.323 seconds from Alex, with Fabio Di Giannantonio third. It was Marc’s ninth Sprint win of the year and 24th career victory in the format. “It was a close fight. I was aggressive, and he was faster than me, but I tried to defend myself as best I could,” he said. “We both deserved the win, but that’s racing. Today it went my way.”

Alex came under scrutiny for not attacking his brother in the closing stages, prompting speculation about Ducati team orders. He said the decision was his own, based on the danger of attempting a pass while riding at the limit. After Martin’s crash, Alex said, he had the speed to challenge Marc, “but it was too risky, and he is playing for a championship, and I will never make that risk for a sprint win.” He added: “If the risk is high, I will take zero risk to make an overtake on him.” Alex said his initial plan had been to attack Marc and set his own pace, but Martin’s counterattack prevented him from doing so. “He’s my brother, but we also share a manufacturer and all that,” he said.

Alex had earlier described his position behind the leaders as “an ideal position to observe”. He finished second after losing time in the fight with Pedro Acosta, saying he was “very happy to have finished behind Marc”. Bezzecchi was fourth, Acosta fifth, Ai Ogura sixth, Brad Binder seventh and Miller eighth. Gresini replacement Iker Lecuona finished tenth.

Marquez now leads the standings with 365 points, ten ahead of Martin, while Bezzecchi is third on 315. The Grand Prix remains ahead, with heavier rain expected on Sunday. Only 18 riders are set to start, as four have been forced out of the race. Phillip Island is hosting its final Australian Grand Prix before the event moves to an Adelaide street circuit in 2027.