MotoGP faces its most unpredictable weekend in recent seasons, with newly crowned champion Marc Marquez, as well as former Phillip Island winners Jorge Martin and Maverick Vinales, all absent.
The trio formed the entire front row of last year’s Australian Grand Prix grid, which saw Marquez win from Martin, but will not compete this weekend due to injury.
Ducati factory star Marquez will miss at least the next two races after tearing ligaments in his right clavicle in Indonesia following a collision with Marco Bezzecchi.
Martin remains sidelined after undergoing surgery for a broken collarbone suffered in a collision with Aprilia teammate Bezzecchi in Turn 1 at Motegi.
Tech3 KTM’s Vinales withdrew after qualifying in Mandalika due to continuing issues with his shoulder healing.
Alex Rins (2022) and Johann Zarco (2023) will be the only Premier Class Island winners in action this weekend, with six Australian MotoGP winners in between: Marquez (4), Martin (1) and Viñales (1).
Marquez will be replaced by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, Martin by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori and Vinales by KTM test rider Pol Espargaro.
Meanwhile, back at Phillip Island, Bezzecchi showed blistering pace on Mandalika’s fast, flowing sections and emerged as one of the favorites for victory, but he will have to serve two long-lap penalties for causing a horrific accident with Marquez on Sunday.
Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura, who withdrew from his home Grand Prix in Japan and missed all Mandalika events due to a wrist injury sustained at Misano, will also return to the track this weekend.
Friday schedule:
10:45am (local) / 12:45am (UK) – MotoGP FP1
3pm (local time) / 5am (UK) – MotoGP Practice*
*Top 10 riders will have direct access to Qualifying 2.