Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin has emerged victorious in this afternoon’s Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Tissot Sprint race at the Phillip Island Circuit.

The spaniard’s lead came after a strong performance in Q2 earlier in the day with a stellar lap time of 1:27.296, which launched him to pole position.

Taking out second place in the 13-lap sprint, Marc Marquez powered his satellite Gresini Racing Ducati across the line over one-and-a-half seconds later.

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini rounded out the podium-placers in third, just over four seconds later (after Martin).

The adrenaline fuelled race was not without drama. The sprint saw seven DNFs after several crashes and high-speed incidents. 

Home hero, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lost his footing after a spill during Lap 8 leaving Aussie fans disappointed.

To add to the tense, on-track shenanigans, Miller’s teammate Brad Binder, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) all fell victim to crashes throughout the race.

Lap 12 proved tumultuous in the battle for fifth, with Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Vinales and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi colliding at Turn 2 in a high-speed crash leaving both riders in the gravel.

Tomorrow’s main 27-lap premier class race will begin at 2pm, alongside supporting category races, Moto2 (at 12.15pm) and Moto3 (at 11am).

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