Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo has sent a stern warning to the man set to rip this year’s crown from his hands with a dominating run in Friday practice ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
The Yamaha rider quickly mastered the newly-resurfaced Phillip Island track to be fastest in the day’s two sessions under clear blue skies.
He was the only rider to break the one minute, 29-second barrier with a flying lap of 1:28.961.
He had earlier laid down a sizzling marker of 1:29.167, pushing past championship leader Marc Marquez who was hot on his heels in the weekend’s opening session.
But it was a different story later in the day.
Marquez crashed out just two laps into the second free practice after struggling to hold onto his Honda at the top of Lukey Heights – the highest point on the picturesque coastal track.
Despite a quick recovery, the 20-year-old Spanish rookie could not match the pace set by Lorenzo and finished the session just sixth fastest.
An apparent mechanical failure cut short his Honda teammate’s second stint, but only after he posted the third quickest time of the session behind Alvaro Bautista.
Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow rounded out the top five, while Australians Bryan Staring and Damian Cudlin were 21st and 23rd on the timesheets respectively.
Marquez is on the cusp of becoming the youngest ever MotoGP world champion – his commanding 43-point lead over Lorenzo putting him in pole position to claim the title in Sunday’s race.
He only needs to finish eighth or better, and have Lorenzo cross the line behind him, to win the championship.
The riders will have a final practice session on Saturday morning before qualifying begins at 3.10pm (AEDT).