In the first Moto2™ practice of the AirAsia Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island it was Tuenti Movil HP 40’s Pol Espargaró who came out on top ahead of Scott Redding and Tom Lüthi, while Marc Márquez suffered a problem-hit session.

Conditions stayed dry for the Moto2™ class, and it was Espargaró who looked on song from the off as he set the fastest time of the morning with a 1.34’795, which was over half a second off his closest challenger, Marc VDS Racing Team’s Redding in second. Interwetten-Paddock’s Tom Lüthi put in a hot lap towards the end to finish just fractionally behind the Brit in third.

Redding’s teammate Mika Kallio was on good form in the morning session coming in fourth, ahead of Kiefer Racing’s Mike Di Meglio, who has been off the radar somewhat since joining the German outfit. Continuing his upsurge in pace was local rider Anthony West on board his QMMF Racing Speed Master machine, who after his podium in Malaysia took yet another visit into the top ten – this time in dry conditions.

Speed Master’s Andrea Iannone, having been off colour in the last few rounds, will be pleased to be in seventh, ahead of Came IodaRacing Project’s compatriot Simone Corsi. GP Team Switzerland’s Randy Krummenacher and last-race winner, NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Alex de Angelis, completed the top ten. There was one crasher in the session in the form of Arguiñano Racing Team’s Ricky Cardús, who was unhurt in the incident.

Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s Marc Márquez’s morning did not get off to a good start as he was unable to set a lap time, due to suffering what look like serious bike issues, only making it out of the pits three times before retiring almost instantly every time. It later turned out to be an issue with an electrical connector.

.