Defending Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix winner Maverick Viñales (Yamaha) has set the pace in both practice sessions at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

The opening session was run in wet and blustery conditions with Viñales setting the pace ahead of Australian Jack Miller (Ducati) and world champion Marc Marquez.

A heavy crash for Fabio Quartararo saw the Yamaha rider fall at Siberia and he immediately clutched his lower left leg and ankle.

Although cleared of any fracture he sustained a haematoma, but sat out the dry afternoon session.

The Frenchman will undergo further evaluation on Saturday morning.

The afternoon session saw Viñales dominate from the start.

He was quickest on the hard rear Michelin tyre, before switching to softer rubber and going quicker again.

The final minutes saw the rest of the top five switch around with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) moving into second ahead of Cal Crutchlow (Honda), Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) and Miller.

Marquez finished sixth quickest after his final lap was compromised by team-mate Jorge Lorenzo on the last corner, the pair making side-by-side contact with part of Marquez’s fairing flying off the Honda.

Weather forecasts predict mixed conditions for the weekend, with the premier class next out for Practice 3 at 1050 AEDT on Saturday morning.