Image: Russell Colvin.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder and Jorge Martin were unmatched in Moto2 on their way to a 1-2 result during this afternoon’s race at the 2019 Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Binder kept his title hopes alive in a race that saw world championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) cross the line in eighth position – 33 points now the difference with two races remaining.

While South African Binder – who will step up to MotoGP in the factory Red Bull KTM team in 2020 – overcame the challenge of teammate Martin by 1.968s, with veteran Thomas Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) rounding out the podium finishers and currently second in the standings. Pole-setter Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) was fourth, ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (FLEXBOX HP 40).

Australian ace Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) put forward a strong effort for a sixth-place this afternoon at home. He was followed by MotoGP-bound Iker Lecuona (American Racing), Marquez, Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Temporary Forward Racing) and second of the SAG Team entries, Tetsuta Nagashima, in 10th.

Drama struck Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Marco Bezzechi (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on the opening lap when both crashed out, courtesy of an error made by Lecuona into turn four. He also ran wide and was later dealt with a long lap penalty on his way to salvaging P7.

Detailed results

Image: Russell Colvin.

Italian rising star Lorenzo Dalla Porta has won the 2019 Moto3 World Championship after edging to a deserved victory in a frantic race at Phillip Island’s Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The Leopard Racing rider became the first Italian to win the title since Andrea Dovizioso in 2004, topping today’s race over teammate Marcos Ramirez and Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team) after title rival Aaron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing KTM) crashed out early.

With in excess of 10 bikes battling in the front group throughout the 23-lap affair, Dalla Porta crossed the finish only 0.077s ahead of Ramirez and 0.088s from Arenas in third. No less than six riders met the chequered flag within a second, including Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse Honda), John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda) and a gritty Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power KTM).

Positions seven through 10 in the race featured Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing Honda), Tom Booth-Amos (CIP Green Power KTM), Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers Honda) and Stefano Napa (Reale Avintia Arizona 77 KTM).

Wildcard Yanni Shaw (Double Six Motor Sport KTM) was a non-finisher after entering the pit-lane on lap four, while New Zealand teammate Rogan Chandler was the final finisher, a lap down on Dalla Porta in 19th position this afternoon.

Detailed results

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Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales has confirmed his pace at Phillip Island in Sunday morning qualifying ahead of the 2019 Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, storming to pole position in cool conditions.

Vinales’ flying lap of 1m28.492s was over half a second clear of impressive rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), who rebounded from his incident on Friday to go via Q1 onto the front row. He was ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda).

Leading row two will be Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) in his 400th grand prix, edging Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda). Positions nine through 10 were completed by Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), his teammate Andrea Iannone, Australia’s Jack Miller (Pramac Racing Ducati) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team).

The warm-up sessions earlier this morning were led by Vinales once again in the premier class, as Red Bull KTM Ajo teammates Brad Binder and Jorge Martin topped Moto2, while Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda) was quickest in Moto3.

Detailed results

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Qualifying has been postponed for the MotoGP class at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix due to dangerous wind conditions.

FP4 was cut short as the premier class riders were called to Safety Commission, with the outcome being that the weather conditions were too unsafe to ride in. Qualifying will take place on Sunday morning.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was blown off the track heading down into turn one during FP4, which resulted in the Portuguese rider suffering a seriously fast, heavy crash.

The red flags came out shortly after as the riders headed to the Safety Commission meeting, with Oliveira heading to the medical centre for a check-up. Thankfully, although bruised, the KTM man suffered no broken bones.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) was fastest in the session on his eighth lap before the red flags came out, ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales, who was 0.351s seconds adrift.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was third fastest, 0.762s behind Marquez, whilst Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) put four different manufacturers inside the top four and Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli finding a more suitable setup on his Yamaha M1 to round off the top five. Australian Jack Miller was 15th on the timesheets.

Detailed results

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Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) has claimed pole position in the Moto2 category at Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

For the first time since Le Mans, Navarro will launch from P1 thanks to a 1m33.565s in Moto2 Q2. The rain started falling in the final five minutes of the session to prematurely end proceedings, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Q1 graduate Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) completing the front row.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) and Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completed the top five, as Australian Remy Garnder (SAG Racing) qualified in P15.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Leopard Racing’s Marcos Ramirez will start a Moto3 race from pole position tomorrow after claiming the top spot for the very first time after mastering some tough conditions.

Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was a fraction off the pace to complete the session in P2, with the front row set to be locked out by Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team).

John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) were fourth and fifth respectively, while wildcards Rogan Chandler (Double Six Motor Sport) and Yannis Shaw (Double Six Motor Sport) qualified 28th and 31st.

MotoGP FP4 was red-flagged due to worsening weather conditions, with the remainder of today’s events cancelled. More to come.

Detailed results

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Spaniard Maverick Vinales continued to remain atop the timesheets in Saturday morning’s FP3 session at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, where just 12 riders made it out on track in the premier class.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider set a best time of 1m31.338s in the windy conditions, edging out Marc Marquez’ (Repsol Honda) 1m31.577s and Pol Espargaro’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 1m32.989s.

Johann Zarco was fourth in the session, in what is his first weekend aboard the LCR Honda, while Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) locked out the top five.

Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) returned after his heavy crash yesterday for sixth, followed by Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), and Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing).

Image: Supplied.

Vinales’ 1m28.824s from FP2 sees him still hold top spot in the combined results, joined in the top three by Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda).

Moto2 FP3 belonged to Beta Tools Speed Up’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, who set a time of 1m33.555s to edge out Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing).

Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) still holds the top spot on the combined timesheets after blitzing the fielding in Friday’s sessions, where he’s followed by teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Beta Tools Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro. Gardner is ranked 16th in the combined times.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) topped the timesheets with a 1m38.492s to head Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP) and Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) in the FP3 of the Moto2 category.

It was Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) who led Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) and Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team) in the combined times after stronger track conditions during Friday’s FP2, while Australian wildcard Yannis Shaw (Double Six Motor Sport) was 30th, followed by New Zealand wildcard Rogan Chandler (Double Six Motor Sport).

Detailed results

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Reigning ASBK champion Troy Herfoss has secured pole position in the Superbike support class at Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The Penrite Honda Racing ace set a time of 1m32.171s, comfortably edging out former multi-time Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss (DesmoSport Ducati), who made his return aboard the Panigale V4 with a 1m32.789s lap.

Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton was third fastest with a lap of 1m34.283s, the former ASBK champion debuting the new BMW S 1000RR.

Jed Metcher (Suzuki) was fourth followed by Mark Chiodo (Penrite Honda Racing), while the top 10 was rounded out by Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki), Dean Hasler (BMW), Phillip Czaj (Aprilia), Ryan Taylor (Yamaha) and Luke Follacchio (BMW).

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In the Supersport 300 class, Matthew Rindel (Yamaha) dominated the opening race with an incredible 21.911s victory over Cooper Corbet (Yamaha) and Zane Kinna (Yamaha).

Patrick Bognar (Yamaha) was fourth ahead of Josh Noden (Yamaha), while ASBK regular and early front-runner Luke Jhonston (Kawasaki) was forced to retire from the outing.

Both categories will be back on track tomorrow for racing, as the grand prix classes take on qualifying.

Detailed results

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After scoring P1 in a wet FP1, Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) went onto the top the timesheets in a dry FP2 session at Phillip Island.

The Spaniard set a time of 1m28.824s, almost half a second quicker than his nearest challenger Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who recorded a 1m29.320s lap.

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow was third with a time of 1m29.325s, followed by Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) and Australian fan-favourite Jack Miller (Pramac Racing).

Recently-crowned world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) was sixth, while the top 10 was completed by Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).

Image: Russell Colvin.

Johann Zarco, who’s making his MotoGP return with LCR Honda, was 15th on the timesheets, while top Independent rider Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was ruled out of the session after crashing heavily in FP1 – he has been declared fit to continue on throughout the weekend.

Despite the change in conditions, Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) once again reigned supreme with a 1m33.010s time in the Moto2 category, narrowly beating teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) was third followed by Iker Lecuona (monday.com American Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), while Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing), who crashed heavily in FP1, was 19th fastest.

Image: Russell Colvin.

In the Moto3 category, Aaron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) blitzed the division with a fastest time of 1m36.809s, edging out Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) and Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team).

Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) were fourth and fifth respectively, as Australian wildcard Yannis Shaw (Double Six Motor Sport) was 30th on the timesheets.New Zealand wildcard Rogan Chandler (Double Six Motor Sport) didn’t make it out in the session.

Detailed results

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Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo has been ruled out of FP2 at Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix this afternoon following a high-side in the opening practice session earlier today.

The French rookie was taken to the Phillip Island medical centre for further checks, however, X-rays revealed no fractures, but he will undergo further treatment of a hematoma in his left ankle.

Quartararo was flicked from his satellite YZR-M1 on entry into Siberia this morning, which was held in damp conditions, and the 20-year-old was immediately stretchered off while crutching his left leg. His time was still quick enough to place him seventh on the time-sheets.

As a result, the newly-awarded Rookie of the Year has been declared fit for the rest of the weekend, but he won’t participate in FP2 due to the painkillers that he was administered. Quartararo’s condition will be monitored closely and checked again ahead prior to tomorrow’s action.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales has edged out home hero Jack Miller (Pramac Miller) in a wet FP1 session at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The Spaniard recorded a time of 1m38.957s, just a fraction ahead of Miller’s 1m39.104s. Recently-crowned world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) concluded the top three with a time of 1m39.342s.

Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha), who’s set to start his 400th grand prix this weekend, was fourth followed by Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team).

The top 10 was rounded out by Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – who as transferred to hospital after a nasty highside – Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3), and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). In his return to riding, and on debut with LCR Honda, Johann Zarco completed the session in 13th.

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Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jorge Martin topped the Moto2 timesheets in FP1, setting a time of 1m45.823s. He was well clear of Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Temporary Forward).

Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) were fourth and fifth respectively, as Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing) was 11th fastest, however suffered a heavy fall in the session.

Image: Russell Colvin.

In the Moto3 category, Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) was fastest ahead of Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) and Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers), as the top five was completed by Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power) and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing).

Australian wildcard Yannis Shaw (Double Six Motor Sport) didn’t make it out in the session, while New Zealand’s Rogan Chandler (Double Six Motor Sport) was classed as ‘not qualified’ in the session.

Detailed results