Francesco Bagnaia, Australian MotoGP 20 September
Francesco Bagnaia, Australian MotoGP 20 September

2023 Australian MotoGP: Saturday GP Race - LIVE UPDATES

Gale-force winds forecast for Sunday means the main Australia🎃n MotoGP race has been moved forward to Saturday afternoon, swapping places with the Sprint,꧋ which now takes over the GP slot on Sunday (weather permitting).

Francesco Bagnaia takes an 18-point lead over J𝔉orge Martin ♔into today's race after the Pramac Ducati rider’s costly fall from the lead at Mandalika last Sunday.

However, Martin will start from pole position after setting a new Phillip Island lap record, with KTM's Brad Binder and reigning൲ champion Bagnaia completing the front row.

Aleix Espargaro, Johann Zarco and Fabio di Giannantonio will form row two with Binder's team-mate and home hero Jack Miller start♋ing between Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales in eighth.

Last year's Philli꧃p Island winner Alex Rins w𒈔ithdrew on Saturday morning due to pain from his Mugello leg fractures.

Marc Marquez took his onl๊y podium of the season in Australia last year.

05:56

The top five were Zarco, ꧃Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio, Binder and Martin.

05:56

The top five were Zarco, Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio, Binder 🔯and Martin.

05:53
Last lap glory for Pramac Ducati but it's not Martin

Zarco wins. Zarco i⛎s finally a MotoGP race winner.

05:52

Zarco leads! Zarco꧒ and Bagnaia have come through. 

05:51
Last lap

Martin leads by just four tenths.

05:51

Zarco is really helpꦗing Martin as he pushes his way through ꦫon Binder for second. 

05:49

It's 1.6 seconds. Binde🅠r is really closing in on Martin with thr✅ee laps to go. 

05:47

Martin is still doing a great job but the four riders behind are now c🐻losing at a fairly quick ra𒊎te. Binder is 2.1 seconds down on Martin. 

05:46
5 laps to go

Binder responds. The KTM rider comes through on Di Gianna🧔ntonio for P2. 

05:45

𓄧Zarco is through on Bagnaia for fourth place. 💟;

05:43

Di Giannantonio just took four𝓡 tenths out of Martin on lap 21. This might not be over.

05:40
9 laps

Di Giannantonio comes through on Bind😼er for second place. 

05:39

Binder and Di Giannanto💯nio have gapped Bagnaia again - Martin leads by 3.3 second♏s with 10 laps to go. 

05:32

Augusto Fernandez is the next rider to have crashed at turn fo꧑ur. 

05:30

Bagnaia is now coming back at DI Giannantonio for the podium places and is bringing Z🐎arc𒊎o along with him. 

05:29

Joan Mir⭕ has gone down at turn four after contact with Luca Marini. 

05:24
Lap 8

Bagnaia is 🎶still fou🍰rth but is facing pressure from Zarco and Marc Marquez.

05:20
Lap 5

Martin's lead over Binder is up to 1.3 seconds whiౠle Di Giannantonioಌ has pulled a second clear of Bagnaia. 

05:19
Lap 3

Di Giannanಌtonio goes through on Bagnaia for third. What a start from the Gres🐽ini rider.

05:13

Martin leads com🐠ing out of t𝓰urn one from Binder and Bagnaia.

05:12

And it's lights ꧑out at the Australian MotoGP.&nbs🐷p;

05:10

The formation lap is underway. 

05:04

Good morning and welcome to raceday at🍰 Phillip Island. The graಞnd prix is just five minutes away.