British rider Cal Crutchlow has topped the standings after the first free practice session of the Australian MotoGP at a wet Phillip Island circuit.
Friday’s first session got underway in drizzling rain and conditions worsened throughout the 45-minute free practice, with Crutchlow setting the quickest time on his LCR Honda.
Local hope Jack Miller was fourth quickest on his Marc VDS Honda, with newly crowned MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez in fifth.
The only other Australian on the grid, Mike Jones on a Avintia Racing Ducati, is 14th.
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi is second in the standings, but his Movistar Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo struggled in the conditions to clock the 20th fastest time.
Riders will have the opportunity to improve on their times at a second practice session on Friday afternoon and a third on Saturday morning.
The top 10 riders on aggregate across all three sessions go through to second qualifying where they will fight it out for pole position.
The remainder of the field goes into the first qualifying session, with the top two riders there earning entry into second qualifying.
In Moto2 action, Remy Gardner put a week of turmoil behind him to be 10th quickest at the end of first practice.
Gardner’s ride on the Tasca Racing Scuderia bike was uncertain after he was detained, with his father Wayne Gardner, by local authorities over an alleged road rage incident before the Japanese grand prix on Sunday.
Remy Gardner arrived in Australia on Thursday, while his father remains in custody and is receiving Australian consular assistance.