Martin fifth, Marquez third in Phillip Island practice
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 23, 2026
Martin’s Phillip Island weekend
Jorge Martin carried a two-point lead over Marc Marquez into the Phillip Island weekend and left Friday with a mixed but workable start to his Australian Grand Prix defense. He then said he felt fast and ready to protect the top spot in the championship fight. Martin said he wanted to attack if the pace allowed it. If the conditions or the race situation did not give him that chance, he planned to focus on limiting damage and avoiding unnecessary risks. Rain in the forecast shaped that thinking. Martin said the weather could make the weekend harder and that he would have to be clever at Phillip Island, where changing conditions can turn a session into a test of judgment as much as speed. That made Friday more than a simple tune-up. It became an early read on how much he could push and how much he had to manage if the track changed on him.
The day also gave Martin a clear picture of where he stood on the Aprilia. It was his first time riding the bike at Phillip Island, and he said he was short on data compared with his Aprilia stablemates. Martin was still adjusting his riding style after moving from Ducati to Aprilia, and the fast, flowing layout at Phillip Island exposed that transition. Martin said he was entering corners too aggressively or too quickly, which overloaded the front tire and forced him to wait too long before opening the throttle. On a circuit that rewards rhythm and commitment, that problem stood out more than it might at another track. Even so, Martin said the day was better than expected and that he felt stronger in the afternoon. By the end of the session, he said he felt more balanced and was closing the gap to the other Aprilia riders. He also pointed to the available session data as a tool he could use to keep improving. The result left him in a position he could work with, competitive enough to stay in the fight while still trying to sharpen the details that matter most over a full race weekend.
Marquez’s Phillip Island push
Marc Marquez approached the Phillip Island weekend with urgency, and his approach matched the urgency of the moment. He said there were only four or five races left in the season, which changed the way he had to approach every stop on the calendar. At this stage, he said, he must attack at every track instead of racing defensively. That outlook fit a weekend where the margin for error could shrink fast if weather conditions shifted. Marquez said the forecast made it important to begin Friday with high intensity so the team could prepare for both dry and wet running. He framed the opening day as a chance to gather the information needed for whatever the rest of the weekend brought, not just to chase a single lap time. If the rain arrived, he said fast riders and competitive bikes should stay quick anyway. That belief gave the team a clear target. It also explained why he pushed early rather than waiting to react once the track changed.
Phillip Island had also been one of Marquez’s strongest venues, which added context to his approach. He had won there four times, including 2024, so the circuit already suited his style and his record. That history mattered because Phillip Island rewards riders who can commit to speed through flowing sections and manage the conditions without losing momentum. Marquez’s comments made it clear that he saw the weekend through the lens of opportunity as much as defense. With the title picture tightening and the calendar running short, he was not treating practice as a cautious build-up. He wanted to start fast, stay aggressive and give himself room to keep pressing, whether the surface stayed dry or turned wet.
