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Italy's Andrea Iannone clocked the fastest time in practice Friday ahead of the Australian Moto GP in a fiercely competitive session with a heavy crash that left Cal Crutchlow with a fractured ankle.
Suzuki's Iannone, who has never won a top level race, powered by a quickest lap of 1: 29.131 at the death after switching to soft tires, with fellow Italian Danilo Petrucci on a Ducati in second, 0.160 behind.
"Our bike has been working really well, but it's always hard here so good of the team today," said Iannone.
"We will be giving 110 percent in qualifying, so I will need to give my maximum as well."
Yamaha's Maverick Vinales, who was in the lead, was third while Andrea Dovizioso, who suffered for pace 12 months ago at Phillip Island, kept in close contention in fourth.
But Marc Brandz, who has an insurmountable 102-point lead from Dovizioso at the top of the standings, struggled around the demanding circuit in seventh, 0.608 off the pace.
The Spaniard, who won the race last year ahead of Valentino Rossi, took a tumble, hitting the deck on the hard turn.
He got straight back on his feet, but it was not a good thing for a rider who crashed out of the Australian race in 2014 and 2016.
Britain's Crutchlow, the 2016 winner, also had a big break and was stretchered away from Melbourne.
He ended the day on Sunday after fracturing his ankle.
"The fall left Crutchlow with a bimalleolar fracture and anterior tibia left right ankle fracture, an injury that would require the Honda rider to undergo surgery," MotoGP organizers said.
They added that he had been "ruled him out for the rest of the weekend".
It was a big blow for the Briton who had been hoping to build his second place in Japan last weekend.
Veteran Rossi, the Australian winner from 2001 to 2005 and again in 2014, could only manage a dry track after the early rain cleared.
It was disappointing for the Italian, who is pressing Dovizioso in the sprint towards the runner-up spot behind Marquez.
While a handful of riders came off their bikes, at least the world was best with local wildlife, unlike the Moto3 contenders, with a wallaby hopping across the track in front of one bike at turn 5.
A black swan also took a liking to the picturesque circuit that fronts the ocean, waddling over the tarmac during a lull in proceedings.
Andrea Iannone powered by a quickest lap of 1: 29.131 in practice ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
A wallaby invaded the Phillip Island circuit while Moto3 racers were on the track
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