PHILLIP ISLAND (AUSTRALIA) - Newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez seized on dry track conditions to post the fastest lap time in practice ahead of qualifying for the Australian MotoGP on Saturday.
Spanish rider Marc Marquez posted a best lap time of one minute 33.155 seconds in practice ahead of the 2016 Australian Grand Prix
The Spanish Repsol Honda whiz zipped around the sweeping Phillip Island circuit in a best time of one minute 33.155 seconds.
Next quickest was Australian hope Jack Miller 0.054secs behind on his Honda.
But it was a troubled third practice for the Movistar Yamaha duo, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, both vying to finish second in this year's world championship.
Rossi, the nine-time world champion, was 12th, some 2.308secs down on Marquez's lap time, while Lorenzo struggled in 21st spot, despite trying to squeeze in a better time in wet conditions late in the session.
Lorenzo, who was pipped by Marquez by just 0.249 seconds in last year's Phillip Island race, was 5.163secs slower than Marquez, indicating the ground he has to make up this weekend.
Marquez, who at 23 became the youngest rider to win three premier-class world championship titles with victory last week in Japan, will head into qualifying looking for pole position for Sunday's MotoGP.
Marquez holds an unassailable 77-point lead in the standings with three races to go.