Top local hope Jack Miller has clocked the third fastest time in Friday’s first free practice session of the Australian MotoGP.

The performance is a stunning effort from the Marc VDS rider who broke his leg just three weeks ago and is racing with a plate and eight screws inserted just below his right knee.

Miller missed last week’s Japanese MotoGP as he undertook a gruelling recovery regime, with Friday morning’s session his first time back on a motorbike since the training accident.

Championship leader Marc Marquez was quickest on his Repsol Honda in the morning session at a sunny but windy Phillip Island circuit, with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Johann Zarco second.

Marquez’s main rival for the 2017 world title, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso, was fourth.

Broc Parkes, the only other Australian on the grid, put up the slowest time of the session in his first ride on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

Thr 35-year-old from New South Wales was a late injury replacement for German Jonas Folger.

Riders will have the opportunity to improve on their times at Friday afternoon practice session 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 earning entry into second qualifying.

In Moto2 practice, Australian rider Remy Gardner crashed out early in the session but was able to return to post the 24th fastest time.

Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) put in a blistering session and was quickest by more than half a second.

Sky Racing Team VR46’s Nicolo Bulega topped the standings in Moto3 practice.