MotoGP: Live coverage of Friday practice for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island

MARC Marquez laid down the fastest lap in opening practice for the Australian MotoGP on a day where rookie Jack Miller impressed on home soil.

REIGNING MotoGP champion Marc Marquez clocked a blistering lap late in the second practice session of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island this afternoon.

The Repsol Honda rider recorded the day’s quickest time of 1:29.383 after spending much of the afternoon session down in the charts to the duelling Yamahas of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Lorenzo was second-fastest, just ahead of Maverick Vinales on the factory Suzuki.

Aussie flyer Jack Miller finished the session in 11th on the LCR Honda, but his 1:30.127 time was faster than his morning effort when he finished fifth fastest.

RESULTS: Click here for full results from MotoGP Free Practice 1 and 2

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Miller recovered after running off on to the grass at turn 2 early in the afternoon session,

saying a top-10 finish in Sunday’s race was a definite possibility after today’s hitout.

“I’m pretty happy with how today went. The bike seems to be working better and better each session. I seem to be getting more and more comfortable with the track.

“We’re going to give it all we can tomorrow.”

“I’m trying to do my best and as I said all along, here’s a track that was going to suit our bike, the higher corner speed.”

His teammate Brit Cal Crutchlow was the first rider under 90 seconds on the day, only to be quickly surpassed by Marquez, Lorenzo, Vinales and Andrea Iannone (Ducati).

Rossi finished the session ninth-fastest.

Aussies Anthony West and Damian Cudlin were 24th and 25th respectively.

Two more practice sessions will be held tomorrow followed by qualifying.

Rossi leads the championship by 18 points from Lorenzo. The duo are the only two left in contention for the 2015 MotoGP crown with three rounds to go.

Relive all the day’s MotoGP action in our live blog below.

Miller impressed on his first day aboard a MotoGP bike at Phillip Island. Pic: Mark Stewart

FREE PRACTICE 1

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo recorded the fastest time in the opening MotoGP practice session at Phillip Island this morning.

The Yamaha star set a time of 1:30.047, ahead of Honda’s reigning champion Marc Marquez and Italian veteran Valentino Rossi third.

Aussie Jack Miller, riding for LCR Honda and making his first appearance on his home track on a MotoGP machine, was an impressive fifth, just 0.665 sec behind Lorenzo.

The session was held under grey skies and cut short when rain fell with four minutes to go. All riders returned to the pits.

Miller’s teammate Cal Crutchlow was sixth.

Andrea Iannone on the Ducati lead the timing sheets for much of the session but eventually slipped to 8th fastest.

The two other Australian entrants were off the pace - Anthony West was 24th fastest and Damian Cudlin 25th.

Originally published as MotoGP: Live coverage of Friday practice for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island