00:48
A huge amount of spray is being thrown up by the safety car, it's not only the amount of water on the track but visibility that is an issue.
Jack Miller
2024 Australian MotoGP: Friday Practice as it happened
Recap Friday practice at the 2024 Australian MotoGP.
Jorge Martin holds a slender 10-point lead over Francesco Bagnaia as the final triple header of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship begins at Phillip Island in Australia.
Always one of the most anticipated rounds of the season, the thrilling seaside circuit has been the scene of many epic battles, while the notoriously unpredictable weather is set to keep teams and riders on edge.
This year’s event comes with the added unknown of MotoGP’s very first laps on the new Phillip Island asphalt.
The last time the Australian track was resurfaced, in 2013, MotoGP required a shortened race distance and pit stops due to the overheating Bridgestone rubber.
The same fate then befell the WorldSBK Championship when it took to the latest tarmac in February of this year, meaning all eyes will be on Michelin’s chosen line-up of 2024 MotoGP compounds.
Whatever happens, MotoGP will be hoping for its first Phillip Island Sprint race this weekend, after storm warnings saw the Saturday race replaced by the full grand prix in 2023.
Martin came within a lap of glory last year, until a soft tyre gamble backfired and team-mate Johann Zarco swept to a long awaited first MotoGP win. The forecast storm then arrived on Sunday, cancelling the rescheduled Sprint.
FP1 starts at 10:45am local time (12:45am UK) followed by Practice at 3:00pm (5:00am UK).
18 Oct 2024
00:47
For now, the riders and teams can only sit and wait in the pits while the spectators shelter as best they can.
00:46
Add in that the Sprint race and Sunday Grand Prix should be dry and there's not much urgency to ride in the wet.
Although, with the conditions notoriously changeable at Phillip Island, riders are sure to work on a wet set-up if/when the session gets underway.
00:44
Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts the rain will last until this evening, with only a brief lull around 2pm.
00:39
With rain still lashing down, a BMW safety car is on track, splashing through the water.
00:38
The start of MotoGP FP1 has been delayed due to the amount of rain.
00:36
Wet weather is expected to continue for the rest of the day. Saturday should be dry, but windy, with Sunday currently predicted to offer the best conditions of the Australian MotoGP weekend.
The problem is that losing Friday to the rain means teams and riders won't gather as much data as they'd like on the expanded tyre selection for the new Phillip Island asphalt.
The soft rear slick is a 'normal' construction' but the medium and hard have a stiffer heat-resistant construction last used at Mandalika.
But today will be on wets, for which Michelin offers Soft and Medium compounds - symmetrical for the front and (as with the slicks) asymmetric at the rear, with the left side reinforced.
00:27
The weather forecasts proved correct and it's a soaking wet start to Friday practice for the 2024 Australian MotoGP.
The Moto2 riders are currently splashing around the Phillip Island circuit, with the opening MotoGP session of the weekend starting in just over 15mins.
