Image: Russell Colvin.

World champion Marc Marquez fired the first dry shots of the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix weekend during the third free practice this morning, topping the session with a flying 1m33.155s laptime.

The Repsol Honda rider was just 0.054s ahead of Australia’s Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda) following an hour-long session that saw an intriguing mixture of wet and dry track running.

FP3 got underway in drying conditions until spits of rain began to fall, however it dried up again for the fastest laps of practice so far. Quick laps were put to an end in the closing laps when the rain fell more heavily once and for all.

It was Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki ECSTAR) and brother Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) who were third and fourth, while Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Scott Redding (Pramac Racing Ducati), Stefan Bradl (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda), Danilo Petrucci (Pramac Racing Ducati) and Hector Barbera (Ducati Team) will go directly to Q2.

Movistar Yamaha teammates Valentino Rossi in 12th and Jorge Lorenzo at the rear of the field in P21 will be forced to go through Q1 this afternoon, as will Aussie Mike Jones (Avintia Racing Ducati), who impressed throughout the session on his way to 18th – once again ahead of Avintia regular Loris Baz.