MotoGP has been calling the combination of final practice, qualifying and the sprint ‘super Saturday’ this season.
The sport will have to come up with a new moniker to include today’s grand prix.
The Australian Grand Prix has been brought forward by 24 hours to avoid the strong winds forecast on Sunday that could jeopardise the entire day’s running.
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With the sprint switched to the expendable Sunday afternoon, teams and riders will start today’s long race down on the kind of information they’d normally like when tackling Phillip Island’s 27 laps.
But there’s so much business to attend to before we get to the showpiece event of the weekend.
After struggling through Friday, including with a giant insect splattering itself all over his handlebars — a bad omen? — title leader Francesco Bagnaia will need to battle out of Q1 just to contend for the pole-getting session.
He’ll be up against some stern opponents for one of two progression slots: 2022 race winner Álex Rins, Alex and Marc Márquez, Fabio Quartararo and Luca Marini.
With Jorge Martin safely through to Q2 and teasing record-breaking pace — he set the outright fastest lap here last year — Bagnaia’s 18-point championship advantage is on the line today.
SATURDAY’S REVISED SCHEDULE
All times in AEDT
Moto3 practice 3: 8:40am (30 minutes)
Moto2 practice 3: 9:25am (30 minutes)
MotoGP free practice 2: 10:10am (30 minutes)
MotoGP qualifying: 10:50am (two 15-minute sessions)
Moto3 qualifying: 12:50pm (two 15-minute sessions)
Moto2 qualifying: 1:45pm (two 15-minute sessions)
Australian Grand Prix: 3:10pm (27 laps)
Miller starts strong, Bagnaia misfires | 00:49
WHAT’S THE WEATHER DOING?
While Saturday’s forecast makes for happier reading than Sunday’s predicted weather, it could still be challenging for riders, particularly in the premier class by the time the grand prix rolls around after 3pm.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a strong wind warning for the Victorian central coast area, which crashes onto the southern coast of Phillip Island, where the grand prix circuit is located overlooking Bass Strait.
Wind speed off the coast will reach between 35 and 40 kilometres per hour in the morning and peak at around 55 kilometres per hour by the end of the day. Gust speeds off the coast can be 40 per cent more powerful than the average wind speed, which is what is most strongly concerning riders.
There’s a 70 per cent chance of rain throughout Saturday and the chance of a thunderstorm later today. The forecast top is 20°C.
For Sunday the Bureau has issued a gale warning for the central coast — which is for winds between 60 and 85 kilometres per hour — and a strong wind warning for the entirety of Phillip Island. There’s a 95 per cent chance of rain — up to 10mm is on the radar — with a maximum temperature of 16°C.
Marquez crashes in opening session | 02:10
BAGNAIA EXPANDS ON ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ PROBLEMS
Francesco Bagnaia will be the focus of the day, with the title leader set to battle his way out of Q1 for a chance to start in the front half of the grid and preserve his title lead.
The factory Ducati rider has an 18-point advantage of Jorge Martin with five weekends remaining.
It hasn’t been unusual for Bagnaia to start weekends with a slow Friday — albeit not so slow that he has to qualify via Q1 — which he put down to focusing more on race pace that single-lap speed, as was the case at Phillip Island.
“Looking to the pace we had this morning, looking to the pace I had this afternoon, we‘re one of the most competitive in terms of lap times, in terms of consistency with the tyres,” he said on Friday night.
“We used the medium; more or less all the others used the soft. So for me our work was better than the others. We have just to improve on starting already with a better feeling.”
But the Italian said he was mystified by the Ducati’s tendency to roll out of the box undercooked after a much strong start to the campaign.
“It‘s strange that we’ve moved from a circuit to another circuit with the same setting — more or less — and for me it’s not working,” he said.
“It‘s not the first time. Mandalika wasn’t the first time. It’s more or less all the season that we arrive Friday, we struggle a lot, Saturday is better and Sunday then we are the fastest.
“In that case we have a day less for being the fastest, but it‘s true also that in this track it’s more difficult to have a clear advantage.”
Bagnaia identified one particular area of work for the final 30-minute free practice session of the weekend this morning before diving into qualifying.
“I‘m struggling a lot on the acceleration in the entrance of fast corners,” he explained. “My bike is too aggressive, very nervous.
“For example, from the last corner to the finish line I am losing two-tenths to [Jorge] Martin, and this is unbelievable.
“I am missing traction. This was more or less the issue, but like Mandalika, the feeling with the bike is not that bad, so this is strange.”
A look back at the 2022 Australian GP | 02:46
REFUNDS OFFERED TO PUNTERS AFTER SCHEDULE CHANGE
Race organisers have confirmed some ticketholders will be eligible for refunds owing to the weekend’s changed schedule and the forecast for dangerous weather on Sunday.
All Sunday-only ticketholders are eligible to access general admission areas on Saturday to watch the race.
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation has advised that all Sunday-only ticketholders who cannot attend the circuit on Saturday and no longer wish to attend on Sunday will be entitled to get their money back.
Sunday-only grandstand and clubhouse ticketholders who attend Saturday but no longer wish to attend on Sunday are eligible for a refund of the difference in price between a Saturday general admission ticket and their original ticket price.
Check the Australian Grand Prix Corporation website for further details.
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