The MotoGP World Championship lands this week at the Phillip Island circuitone of the favorites among pilots for its special atmosphere and scenery of the Australian Grand Prix. Two weeks after the race in Japan, with the ‘red hot’ championship, The seventeenth event of the season promises strong emotions, although we will have to get up early to follow the action live from the Antipodes.
Australia opens the last triplet of races before heading to Valencia for the end of the MotoGP party. With the Moto3 title already awarded to David Alonso in Motegi, the fight for the Moto2 and MotoGP World Championships remains open and with maximum equality in the premier class.
This is how the World Cup goes
Jorge Martín (Pramac Ducati) remains leader of the general classification, although his advantage is only 10 points compared to two-time champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) after the Italian dropped eleven points in Japan. There are 148 points left at stake.
The driver from San Sebastián de los Reyes faces a weekend under pressure, since in Motegi things did not go as expected and a year ago at Phillip Island he did not go beyond fifth position, while the current champion was second, behind Johann Zarco.
Jorge Martín, MotoGP leader /moto gp
Marc Márquez, for his part, He will have another opportunity to return to the podium after his last comebacks and we must remember that Australia is a favorable circuit where he has won four times, the last time in 2019, before his serious arm injury.
Marc is two points behind third place, which is occupied by Enea Bastianini with the official Ducati. Both still have mathematical options for the title, but it does not depend on them and they are far from the fight between Bagnaia and ‘Martinator’.
In Moto2, Ai Ogura seeks to extend his lead in the championship, which is now 60 points after the poor results of Sergio García Dols in the last rounds. Arón Canet is not ruled out in the fight either. And in Moto3 the World Championship was decided in Japan, where David Alonso was proclaimed world champion with four races remaining.
This is the Phillip Island circuit
The Philip Island circuit is located on the island that bears its name, located 140 kilometers from Melbourne. Its impressive landscape, facing the Indian Ocean, as well as the passion of the Australian fans make it one of the most iconic on the MotoGP calendar.
Aerial view of Phillip Island Circuit / moto GP
It was inaugurated in 1956but due to various problems it was closed twice and was reopened in 1966 and in 1989, now to consolidate on the calendar as the venue for the Australian Grand Prix. The route runs for 4,445 kilometers, distributed in 12 curves, seven left and five right. It’s one of the clues faster of the championship, with the longest straight (900 meters). The lap record (1:28.108) is in powerr Marc Márquez since 2013 and the driver with the most victories on Australian asphalt is Valentino Rossi, with eight in all categories.
Where to watch the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix?
Like the rest of the season, the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix can be followed live through the DAZN sports streaming platform and also on dial 70 and 71 of Movistar+ as long as the engine package is contracted. In addition, they will have information about the test at the Phillip Island Circuit on the SPORT website. The other option is to use the VideoPass service offered by the competition itself.
MotoGP 2024 Australian GP schedules
Friday, October 18:
Moto3 FP: 00:00h – 00:35h
Moto2 FP: 00:50h – 03:30h
MotoGP FP1: 1:45h – 02:30h
Moto 3 Practice 1: 04:15h – 4:50h
Moto2 Practice 11: 05:05h – 5:45h
MotoGP Practice: 06:00h – 07:00h
Moto3 Practice 2: 11:40 p.m. – 12:10 a.m.
Saturday October 19:
Moto2 Practice 2: 00:25h – 00:55h
MotoGP FP2: 01:10h – 01:40h
MotoGP Q1: 01:50h – 02:05h
MotoGP Q2: 02:15h – 02:30h
Moto3 Q1: 03:50h – 04:05h
Moto3 Q2: 04:15h – 04:30h
Moto2 Q1: 04:45h – 05:00h
Moto2 Q2: 05:10h – 05:25h
MotoGP Sprint Race: 06:00h (13 laps)
Sunday, October 20:
MotoGP Warm Up: 00:40h – 00:50h
Moto 3 Race: 02:00h (21 laps)
Moto 2 Race: 03:15h (23 laps)
MotoGP Race: 05:00h (27 laps)
