Bezzecchi tops Phillip Island practice after early crash

Marco Bezzecchi topped Friday practice for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, setting the fastest time despite an early collision with Alex Marquez that brought out the first of two red flags. His 1m26.775s lap put him 0.072 seconds ahead of Raul Fernandez and secured direct entry to qualifying’s second segment, Q2. The session was halted again after a wallaby entered the circuit. Bezzecchi’s collision with Alex Marquez occurred at Turn 4; Bezzecchi went off track and fell, while debris from his Aprilia prompted officials to stop the session. He returned and set the fastest time late in the hour. The FIM stewards reviewed the incident and took no further action. Alex Marquez later crashed but finished sixth and also qualified directly for Q2. Fernandez placed second for Trackhouse Aprilia, with Marc Marquez third on a Ducati. Marc Marquez and Ai Ogura recorded the same time, 0.126 seconds behind Bezzecchi, but Marc was classified ahead. Jorge Martin, the championship leader, finished fifth, 0.255 seconds off the pace. Aprilia riders occupied four of the top five positions, with Marc Marquez the only Ducati rider in the top three. The top ten advanced directly to Q2....