MotoGP Grand Prix of Australia 2014: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
Marc Marquez sealed his second successive MotoGP crown with a second-placed finish in Japan last weekend, but the attention shifts to Australia on Sunday with a bout of races still to go in 2014.
Three races remain on the calendar, during which Marquez will attempt to carry on fending away the rest of his peers while they attempt to claw back the Spaniard in what little time they have left.
The championship may already be decided, but Phillip Island nevertheless promises to make for more elite viewing this weekend.
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| Session | Date (UK) | Time | Live Stream |
| Free Practice 3 | Oct. 18 | 12:55 a.m. - 1:40 a.m. BST/7:55 p.m. - 8:40 p.m. ET | BT Sport app (subscription required) |
| Free Practice 4 | Oct. 18 | 4:30 a.m. - 5 a.m. BST/11:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. ET | BT Sport app (subscription required) |
| Qualifying 1 | Oct. 18 | 5:10 a.m. - 5:25 a.m. BST/12:10 a.m. - 12:25 a.m. ET | BT Sport app (subscription required) |
| Qualifying 2 | Oct. 18 | 5:35 a.m. - 5:50 a.m. BST/10:35 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. ET | BT Sport app (subscription required) |
| Race | Oct. 19 | 6 a.m. BST/1 a.m. ET | BT Sport app (subscription required) |
Top Riders to Watch
Jorge Lorenzo
It's a story of too little, too late for Jorge Lorenzo this season as his second half of the campaign continues to show marked improvement compared to his rocky start.
Having managed just three podium finishes during the first nine races of 2014, the Spaniard has now claimed second place or better in his last six outings, not to mention winning the last two races back-to-back.
Moto Matters editor David Emmett praised Lorenzo for his ride in Japan:
What's more, Lorenzo has good omens running in his favour as he enters the Australian Grand Prix to defend his 2013 title, having claimed top spot at Phillip Island this time last term.
With the championship already under his belt, Marquez may allow some complacency to set into his game at this juncture, and if that's to be the case, one can expect Lorenzo to be among the prime, in-form candidates likely to pounce.
Valentino Rossi
No current MotoGP rider has won the Australian Grand Prix more than veteran Valentino Rossi, whose five Phillip Island crowns are second only to the retired Casey Stoner (six) in overall wins.
MotoGP commentator Toby Moody even dubs the 2006 edition of this contest, won by Marco Melandri, the best race ever.
The Italian heads Down Under this weekend on the back of a third-place finish in Motegi, and the win in San Marino four weeks ago remains Rossi's only triumph this season.
Rossi managed to claim third in Australia last year, and again there will be a spotlight on Marquez to perform, but the battle of experience in this setting runs in favour of "The Doctor."
Pol Espargaro
While he hasn't quite mimicked the debut heroics of Marquez, Pol Espargaro's maiden campaign in MotoGP has been a resounding success, with the Spaniard in seventh place with just three races to go.
Australia holds sentiment for the 23-year-old, who won consecutive races in Australia in Moto2 before making the move up to Grand Prix standard, and will hope fortune runs in his favour once more this weekend.
Still a budding talent at this standard, Espargaro has done tremendously to finish outside the top eight only once this year, excluding three retirements, especially when considering the disadvantage his Tech 3 bike puts him at.
Nevertheless, keep an eye out for the rider who obviously enjoys going out in the Australia sun, hoping to replicate his achievements in the lower divisions on the biggest stage of all.
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