Australian fans were eager to watch Australia’s finest road racing athletes including Jack Miller, Remy Gardiner, Tom Toparis and Broc Parkes at this year’s 2017 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island today. Friday practice allowed the riders to setup their bikes, analyse data and prepare for tomorrow’s qualifying.
2017 marks the 23rd time that the GP has taken place at Phillip Island and the atmosphere was electric as ever, even for Friday practice. The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has been a happy hunting ground for Aussies in the past with Casey Stoner taking six wins on the trot, Mick Doohan three victories and Wayne Gardner taking the opening two GP’s at Phillip Island.
MotoGP
Over in MotoGP, Miller and Parkes would fly the flag for Australia. Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS’ Miller has had success at Phillip Island in the past, including a win in the Moto3 class back in 2014 and managed to qualify as high as fifth for MotoGP last year.
Miller had a cracking start to his racing weekend in Free Practice One, where he managed to place as high as third, behind Marc Marquez and Johann Zarco. Miller’s lap was a sensational, only 0.29 off Zarco and the Australian did not even used a soft rear tyre. Not a bad way to return after fracturing his leg only three weeks ago. Miller was strong once again in Free Practice Two and ended his day sixth overall in the merged classification. The pace at the front is too close to call with only a tenth of a second covering the top four, boding well for an exciting race on Sunday. With rain forecast for tomorrow, setting a top ten time today may have been crucial.
Among our Aussies competing, Australia’s Parkes made his MotoGP return with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team today. 35-year-old Parkes is part of Yamaha’s endurance racing team and last rode in MotoGP for the Valencian Grand Prix back in 2015. Parkes would finish Free Practice One in 23rd position on his Yamaha M1, after he suffered a crash in Free Practice Two and ended his day remaining in 23rd.
Combined MotoGP Friday Practice Classification
Jack Miller: 6th
Broc Parkes: 23rd
Moto 2
Tech3 Mistral 610 rider, Gardner in the Moto2 class has been experiencing a solid run of form as of late as he romped to his sixth points scoring finish of the year at the Japanese Grand Prix with a twelfth-place finish. It was an up and down day for Gardner in Friday Practice for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix however.
Gardner suffered an unfortunate start to Free Practice One, losing control of his bike down Lukey Heights and colliding with the tyre wall. Gardner was uninjured after the crash but it was far from an ideal start to the weekend. Gardner finished the session in 23rd position.
He would manage to recuperate and improve for Free Practice Two, finishing in 19thposition and 21st in the combined overall standings.
Combined Moto2 Friday Practice Classification
Remy Gardner: 21st
Moto3
Australia’s Wild Card, Toparis geared up this morning to head out amongst our international guests to perform in the fiercely competitive Moto3 category. Cube Racing rider, Toparis lacked dry running time back at the Japanese Grand Prix and Toparis hoped today would provide him an opportunity to get up to speed in more ideal conditions.
Unfortunately, Toparis’ was not happy with the balance of his Kalex KTM machine and failed to register a lap time in Free Practice One. The Cube Racing Team was hard at work to rectify the issues the machine was experiencing.
In Free Practice Two, Toparis managed to get some laps on the board and recorded 11 in total to finish in 30th place. After failing to have a proper run in Free Practice One, the laps should help Toparis adapt to a racing situation on Sunday. On combined times, Toparis finished in 31st position.
Combined Moto3 Friday Practice Classification
Tom Toparis: 31st
Australia’s riders will reset ready for the commencement of tomorrow’s final practice sessions and qualifying ahead of racing on Sunday at the 2017 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
