FP4 provided one final opportunity to test tyre choice for Sunday afternoon, which was all the more important after the capricious conditions on Friday. Johann Zarco was keen to return to the top of the timesheets after the blip of FP3 and did so until Maverick Viñales swooped in to rob him of the honours for the final handful of minutes of FP4. The two men ended the session separated by two tenths of a second, with Marco Bezzecchi still thriving on his first visit to Phillip Island, this time third on the timesheets. While the Ducatis seemed to favour the hard tyre to set their pace, the Aprilia man gave the mediums a good spin as well.
Pecco Bagnaia was first of the title contenders in fourth, ahead of Joan Mir and Fabio Quartararo, with Jorge Martin and Aleix Espargaro also posting a fast lap within half a second of the leader. Local boy Jack Miller and a surprising Franco Morbidelli rounded out the top 10 positions, with minimal gaps keeping Pol Espargaro, Cal Crutchlow and Marc Marquez ahead of Miguel Oliveira, Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini. FP4 also brought the first crash of the weekend in the premier class, an unlucky Alex Marquez taking an early tumble and limiting his running somewhat, after an excellent weekend so far.
Results:
| Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Prev |
| 1 | 12 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia | 1:28.976 | ||
| 2 | 5 | Johann Zarco | Ducati | 1:29.198 | 0.222 | 0.222 |
| 3 | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 1:29.323 | 0.347 | 0.125 |
| 4 | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 1:29.333 | 0.357 | 0.010 |
| 5 | 36 | Joan Mir | Suzuki | 1:29.406 | 0.430 | 0.073 |
| 6 | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | 1:29.417 | 0.441 | 0.011 |
| 7 | 89 | Jorge Martin | Ducati | 1:29.440 | 0.464 | 0.023 |
| 8 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1:29.463 | 0.487 | 0.023 |
| 9 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | 1:29.481 | 0.505 | 0.018 |
| 10 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha | 1:29.504 | 0.528 | 0.023 |
| 11 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | Honda | 1:29.513 | 0.537 | 0.009 |
| 12 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Yamaha | 1:29.539 | 0.563 | 0.026 |
| 13 | 93 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 1:29.599 | 0.623 | 0.060 |
| 14 | 88 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM | 1:29.656 | 0.680 | 0.057 |
| 15 | 23 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati | 1:29.666 | 0.690 | 0.010 |
| 16 | 10 | Luca Marini | Ducati | 1:29.703 | 0.727 | 0.037 |
| 17 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 1:29.863 | 0.887 | 0.160 |
| 18 | 33 | Brad Binder | KTM | 1:29.946 | 0.970 | 0.083 |
| 19 | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | 1:30.071 | 1.095 | 0.125 |
| 20 | 73 | Alex Marquez | Honda | 1:30.205 | 1.229 | 0.134 |
| 21 | 87 | Remy Gardner | KTM | 1:30.217 | 1.241 | 0.012 |
| 22 | 45 | Tetsuta Nagashima | 1:30.222 | 1.246 | 0.005 | |
| 23 | 25 | Raul Fernandez | KTM | 1:30.260 | 1.284 | 0.038 |
| 24 | 40 | Darryn Binder | Yamaha | 1:30.270 | 1.294 | 0.010 |
Comments
So Honda is now Miller
Congrats Jack, but it made me think... this seems a bit odd. Can someone down under enlighten me as to why Troy or Troy haven't gotten one yet?
Memory....
It could be that memories are short! I suspect that once upon a time turn 4 was named Honda as a result of some sponsorship, and that the name stuck even though the money long since ceased to flow. They were probably after a replacement name, and Jack just happens to be topical.
Could it be
that turn 4 was named Honda corner for car racing? A friend and I were wondering if the corner names carried over between different racing disciplines.
Nah
Honda has never been a factor in premier level car racing in Australia.
Turn 4, Honda corner, is now
Turn 4, Honda corner, is now named Miller corner, where Miller nudged Honda rider Nicky Hayden down and out of his last Motogp race in 2016. Perfect.
I know JM is popular, but c
I know JM is popular, but c'mon. Gardner, Doohan, Stoner... WC's all. Miller? Underachiever since day one. Can't keep a tire under him to finish half the races he is doing well in. Bayliss would have been a better choice IMO.
They could have compromised
They could have compromised and named T4 Milliss Corner.
Rationally, Miller does have more wins than Bayliss, and his most recent was just as dominating as Bayliss's performance in '06. But Bayliss showing up with his WSBK crew and giving Moto HeyPay the figurative middle finger was poetic.
Carruthers Phillis Campbell
Kel Carruthers, Tom Phillis, Keith Campbell are all Aussie World champions.
Thank you for the history
Thank you for the history lesson, Apical. i'm kind of a newb, and only got into GP racing about thirty years ago. i wasn't allowed to touch a moto as a child, and it wasn't until thirty years had passed that i decided "F*** that!" and bought a GPZ 900R.
Why? Why not?
Why turn 4 is now "Miller corner" don't know. Why not Bayliss, Corser or McCoy? Garry McCoy has won Gps too & Superbike races. Both in the big class and 125s. Neither are world champs. Jack Miller may get there.
Perhaps "they" are hoping for some sponsorship from an American beer company?
Big H did pay for naming rights way back in 1989 & 90. Stopped when the Australian Motorcycle grand prix went to Eastern Creek.