The Australian Grand Prix of MotoGP will start with only 18 riders, a reduced number due to injuries and last-minute withdrawals. The competition takes place at the Phillip Island circuit, which hosts its last edition in this season.
Marc Márquez, from the Ducati team, has secured the pole position, leading the championship with a 10-point advantage after his victory in Saturday’s sprint race. The 33-year-old rider dominated the qualifying session with a time of 1’34.203, nearly 1.5 seconds faster than his rivals.
His brother, Álex Márquez, aboard the Ducati Gresini, will take the second position, while Johann Zarco will complete the front row with the LCR Honda, after successfully advancing from Q1.
One of the highlights of the race will be Jack Miller, who will race in his home country for the last time as a MotoGP rider, starting from the fourth position with a special paint job on his Yamaha Pramac. Behind him, Pedro Acosta from KTM and Fabio di Giannantonio from the VR46 team will close the third row.
The situation at Aprilia is complicated, as rider Jorge Martín injured his arm during the sprint race, while Raul Fernández aggravated a finger injury during practice. This leaves Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura as the only representatives of the team.
The Honda team will also be affected by the total absence of its riders. Joan Mir could not start the weekend due to illness, and Luca Marini had to retire after only two laps in Friday’s practice due to a virus. This situation means the team will face the race without representatives.
Additionally, riders Fermin Aldeguer and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu will also not take the start, leaving two spots occupied by Iker Lecuona and Augusto Fernández, who will act as substitutes.
The starting grid promises to be intense, with some important absences, but the competition will be just as fierce on the asphalt of Phillip Island.
Starting grid for the 2026 Australian GP
| Position | Rider | Team | Bike | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1’34.203 |
| 2 | Álex Márquez | Gresini Racing | Ducati | +1.494 |
| 3 | Johann Zarco | Team LCR | Honda | +1.503 |
| 4 | Jack Miller | Pramac Racing | Yamaha | +1.781 |
| 5 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +2.297 |
| 6 | Fabio di Giannantonio | Team VR46 | Ducati | +2.303 |
| 7 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing Team | Aprilia | +2.317 |
| 8 | Diogo Moreira | Team LCR | Honda | +3.681 |
| 9 | Enea Bastianini | Tech 3 | KTM | +4.444 |
| 10 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Racing Team | Aprilia | +5.186 |
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_20fee211d0b2b29f2d9b13175292345fb7b37ad4