MotoGP Australian Grand Prix: Start time, how to watch and more

MotoGP is gearing up for the Australian Grand Prix. With just four races left in the season, the championship fight is hotting up between leader Jorge Martin just 10 ahead of second-placed Francesco Bagnaia. 
 
A similar battle was unfolding between the pair last season and, by the 2023 Australian GP, Bagnaia was leading Martin in the championship by 18 points. Martin had taken pole position for the race and despite taking a comfortable lead at the start of the grand prix, he plummeted down to fifth on the last lap after taking a gamble on a soft rear tyre. 
 
This helped Johann Zarco take his debut win on his 200th try and his first victory since his title win in the 2016 Moto2 championship. The Frenchman had been sitting at the back of a four-rider pack before climbing through the ranks over four laps, to begin chasing down the lead on the final lap. Bagnaia crossed the line in second place, extending his championship lead to 27 points for the final four races. 

When is the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix?

• Date: Sunday 20 October 2024 
• Start time: 4am BST | 5am CEST

The MotoGP Australian GP will take place between 18-20 October 2024. The race will start at 4am BST on Sunday 20 October and will last for 27 laps. 

Saturday’s Sprint race will start at 5am BST on 19 October and will be a 13-lap race. 

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing, Pol Espargaro, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Miller Australian MotoGP 2017 (Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images)

How to watch MotoGP Australian Grand Prix

MotoGP can also be watched via its own streaming service - MotoGP Videopass. This platform offers viewers the ability to watch live races, practices, qualifying and sprint events, as well as highlights and exclusive content. A subscription to MotoGP Videopass costs an annual fee of €199.99 (£170.97) or a monthly fee of €29.99 (£25.64).

The full 2024 MotoGP season is also available to watch on TNT Sports in the UK and the United States. Customers can subscribe to TNT Sports for £30.99 per month, which includes all four sport channels and Discovery+. This also allows viewers to watch via mobile, tablet or console devices.

Free to watch highlights will be available on ITVX, and MotoGP’s website and YouTube channel. 

What are the timings for the Australian Grand Prix?

Here are the full timings for the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix:

Session	Date	Start time (BST)
Free Practice 1	Friday 18 October	12.45am - 1.30am
Free Practice 2	Friday 18 October	5am - 6am
Free Practice 3	Saturday 19 October	12.10am - 12.40am
Qualifying 1	Saturday 19 October	12.50am - 1.05am
Qualifying 2	Saturday 19 October	1.15am - 1.30am
Sprint Race – 13 laps	Saturday 19 October	5am
Race – 27 laps	Sunday 20 October	4am

Where is the Australian Grand Prix being held?

The MotoGP Australian GP will take place at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, Australia. The circuit opened in 1928 as a road circuit, before the modern track was re-opened in 1952. A MotoGP race was first hosted at the track in 1989, with the 500cc race being won by Australian national Wayne Gardner, who took another victory the following year. After the 1990 grand prix, the race was moved to Eastern Creek in Sydney before returning permanently to its Phillip Island home in 1997.  
 
The 2.764-mile (4.448km) circuit has been a staple of the MotoGP racing calendar since – despite missing two years for the COVID-19 pandemic and has been contracted to remain as part of the schedule until 2026.  
 
Valentino Rossi has claimed the most wins at the Australian GP, with five MotoGP wins between 2002-2005 and 2014, a singular win at the 2001 500cc race and two 250cc victories in 1998 and 1999.  
 
Marc Marquez holds the track record setting a time of 1m28.108s at the 2023 Australian GP. 

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team (Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images)

What happened at the 2023 Moto2 and Moto3 races at the Australian Grands Prix?

Tony Arbolino was declared the winner of the Moto2 Australian GP after the race was red-flagged after nine laps of the 23 lap race. Rainy conditions mixed with high winds saw 10 racers crashing, including championship leader Pedro Acosta who lost control of his bike on the sighting lap and was forced to start from the back of the grid. 
 
Arbolino had pulled out a 15 second lead when the red flags were shown, with officials deciding to not restart the race and award half-points to the leading riders. 
 
The previous Moto3 race also saw rainy conditions, which appeared to be less difficult than the Moto2 grand prix. Deniz Oncu completed a dramatic last lap pass on leading Ayumu Sasaki to take his third victory of 2023. The pair had been locked in a tight battle during the 21-lap race, with Joel Kelso joining the fight early on before dropping back late on.  
 
Here is the weekend schedule for the Moto2 and Moto3 Australian GP: 

Moto2 Australian Grand Prix schedule:

Session	Date	Start time (BST)
Free Practice 1	Thursday 17 October	11.35pm - 12.30am
Free Practice 2	Friday 18 October	4.05am - 4.45am
Free Practice 3	Friday 18 October	11.25am - 11.55am
Qualifying 1	Saturday 19 October	3.45am - 4am
Qualifying 2	Saturday 19 October	4.10am - 4.25am
Race – 23 laps	Sunday 20 October	2.15am

Moto3 Australian Grand Prix schedule:

Session	Date	Start time (BST)
Free Practice 1	Thursday 17 October	10.45pm - 11.20pm
Free Practice 2	Friday 18 October	3.15am - 3.50am
Free Practice 3	Friday 18 October	10.40pm - 11.10pm
Qualifying 1	Saturday 19 October	2.50am - 3.05am
Qualifying 2	Saturday 19 October	3.15am - 3.30am
Race – 21  laps	Sunday 20 October	1am

Remaining 2024 MotoGP schedule

Date	Event	Circuit	Local Time	UK Time
25-27 October	Thailand GP	Chang International Circuit	3pm	8am
1-3 November	Malaysian GP	Sepang International Circuit	3pm	7am
15-17  November	Valencian GP	Circuit Ricardo Tormo	2pm	1pm