News Summary
- Australian MotoGP qualifying begins with Q1 at 10:50 AEDT on Saturday, October 24, followed by Q2 at 11:15.
- Fans in the UK can watch from 00:50 BST, India from 05:20 IST and New Zealand from 12:50 NZDT.
- The qualifying results determine the grid for both Saturday’s 13-lap sprint and Sunday’s 27-lap Grand Prix, with Martín and Márquez separated by two championship points.
Qualifying for the 2026 Australian MotoGP Grand Prix begins at 10:50 local time at Phillip Island on Saturday, October 24, with the opening Q1 session followed by Q2 at 11:15 as Jorge Martín, Marc Márquez and their rivals fight for pole position at the circuit’s final scheduled premier-class Grand Prix.
The first qualifying session begins at 00:50 BST in the United Kingdom, 05:20 IST in India and 12:50 NZDT in New Zealand. American fans will need to tune in on Friday evening, with Q1 starting at 19:50 Eastern and 16:50 Pacific.
The results will determine the starting grid for both Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s main race. That makes qualifying particularly important for Martín and Márquez, who arrive in Australia separated by just two points in the 2026 Riders’ Championship.
What time is Australian MotoGP qualifying worldwide?
The first qualifying session, Q1, begins at 10:50 AEDT on Saturday, October 24, equivalent to 23:50 UTC on Friday, October 23.
Q2 follows 25 minutes later, at 11:15 AEDT.
| Country / City | Local date | Q1 start | Q2 start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia — Melbourne / Sydney (AEDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 10:50 | 11:15 |
| Australia — Adelaide (ACDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 10:20 | 10:45 |
| Australia — Brisbane (AEST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 09:50 | 10:15 |
| Australia — Perth (AWST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 07:50 | 08:15 |
| New Zealand — Auckland (NZDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 12:50 | 13:15 |
| United Kingdom — London (BST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 00:50 | 01:15 |
| Ireland — Dublin (IST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 00:50 | 01:15 |
| India — New Delhi (IST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 05:20 | 05:45 |
| United States — New York (EDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 19:50 | 20:15 |
| United States — Chicago (CDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 18:50 | 19:15 |
| United States — Los Angeles (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 16:50 | 17:15 |
| Canada — Toronto (EDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 19:50 | 20:15 |
| Canada — Vancouver (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 16:50 | 17:15 |
| Brazil — Brasília (BRT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 20:50 | 21:15 |
| South Africa — Johannesburg (SAST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 01:50 | 02:15 |
| Singapore (SGT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 07:50 | 08:15 |
| Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur (MYT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 07:50 | 08:15 |
Times refer to the scheduled start of each qualifying session. The United Kingdom remains on BST on Saturday and changes to GMT early on Sunday, October 25.
How does MotoGP qualifying work at Phillip Island?
MotoGP uses a two-stage qualifying system, with riders initially divided according to their performances in Friday afternoon’s Practice session.
The ten fastest riders from Friday Practice advance directly to Q2, avoiding the opening qualifying session.
The remaining riders must participate in Q1, with the two fastest earning the final places in Q2.
That creates a 12-rider contest for pole position.
| Session | Phillip Island time | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Saturday, 10:50 AEDT | 15 minutes | Top two advance to Q2 |
| Q2 | Saturday, 11:15 AEDT | 15 minutes | Determines top 12 grid positions |
Riders eliminated in Q1 occupy the positions from 13th onwards, based on their qualifying lap times.
The same qualifying classification establishes the grid for the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, although penalties can affect the final starting order.
Because Phillip Island is a fast circuit with limited opportunities to recover lost time in traffic, qualifying performance can have a significant effect on race strategy.
Martín and Márquez separated by two points before qualifying
The 2026 championship arrives at Phillip Island with Jorge Martín leading Marc Márquez by just two points.
Marco Bezzecchi remains third, 46 points behind Martín, following his victory at the Indonesian Grand Prix.
| Position | Rider | Team | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. MARTÍN | Aprilia | 355 | — |
| 2 | M. MÁRQUEZ | Ducati | 353 | -2 |
| 3 | M. BEZZECCHI | Aprilia | 309 | -46 |
The narrow difference between the leading riders means Saturday’s sprint could change the championship order before the main race begins.
A sprint victory awards 12 points, while second place is worth nine.
Márquez could therefore overtake Martín by winning the sprint if the championship leader finishes second or lower.
The complete MotoGP title permutations for Phillip Island explain the different combinations that could change the championship standings.
Qualifying could become decisive because starting from the front row would help either rider avoid traffic and reduce the risk of incidents during the opening laps.
Bezzecchi also needs a strong qualifying performance to maximise his opportunity to recover points during the final five rounds.
Why Phillip Island qualifying is different
Phillip Island is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits on the MotoGP calendar.
The 4.448km layout features long, flowing corners, significant elevation changes and exposed coastal sections where strong winds can affect motorcycle stability.
The first sector includes the fast Doohan Corner and Southern Loop, while the middle part of the lap requires precise changes of direction.
The final corners place considerable demands on rear-tyre grip as riders accelerate towards the main straight.
Wind direction can change quickly, creating differences between consecutive laps even when riders use similar tyre configurations.
Those conditions make it particularly important to choose the correct moment to attempt a qualifying lap.
A rider who encounters traffic or changing wind conditions during a short 15-minute session may have limited opportunities to recover.
The circuit’s characteristics have also contributed to memorable qualifying performances and close battles for pole position.
Phillip Island’s final MotoGP weekend offers five historical records and milestones, including qualifying achievements that could become part of the venue’s lasting legacy.
What time is the Australian MotoGP sprint after qualifying?
Saturday’s sprint is scheduled to begin at 15:00 AEDT, approximately three hours and 45 minutes after Q2 starts.
The race will cover 13 laps and award points to the first nine finishers.
| Market | Sprint start |
|---|---|
| Australia — Melbourne / Sydney | Saturday, 15:00 AEDT |
| New Zealand — Auckland | Saturday, 17:00 NZDT |
| United Kingdom — London | Saturday, 05:00 BST |
| India — New Delhi | Saturday, 09:30 IST |
| United States — New York | Saturday, 00:00 EDT |
| United States — Los Angeles | Friday, 21:00 PDT |
| Brazil — Brasília | Saturday, 01:00 BRT |
The full Australian MotoGP sprint guide includes the complete international schedule and explains how the shorter race could affect the championship battle.
Where can fans watch Australian MotoGP qualifying?
The qualifying sessions will be available through the championship’s official broadcasters and streaming partners, subject to local rights and subscription arrangements.
| Market | Broadcast / streaming |
|---|---|
| Australia | Fox Sports / Foxtel / Kayo Sports |
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports / HBO Max |
| India | FanCode |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport |
| United States | Authorised local broadcaster / MotoGP VideoPass |
| Canada | Authorised local broadcaster / MotoGP VideoPass |
Network 10 is providing free-to-air coverage of selected parts of the Australian Grand Prix weekend, but viewers should check the channel’s specific qualifying schedule rather than assume that every session is included.
The complete Phillip Island viewing guide provides further information about television and streaming availability in the main international markets.
When is Sunday’s Australian MotoGP race?
The main Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at 14:00 AEDT, covering 27 laps.
The race begins at 16:00 in New Zealand, 08:30 in India and 03:00 GMT in the United Kingdom.
The complete Australian MotoGP race-time guide includes international conversions and the weekend’s key sessions.
The event will be Phillip Island’s final scheduled MotoGP Grand Prix before the Australian round relocates to Adelaide in 2027.
The farewell weekend will feature celebrations involving Casey Stoner, Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner, recognising the circuit’s contribution to Australian motorcycle racing.
