Overview
- Marco Bezzecchi hit a flock of seagulls on the warm-up lap, with a dead bird later found lodged on the front of his Aprilia.
- He said he was scared and avoided braking to prevent a possible pile-up, then completed the sprint without visible damage to the bike.
- Post-race checks showed no broken aero parts, despite Bezzecchi initially fearing a damaged wing after feeling something in the early laps.
- The victory was his third sprint win of the season and he closed the gap in the battle for third in the championship standings.
- Seagull strikes are a known hazard at the exposed Phillip Island circuit, with past high-profile incidents including Andrea Iannone in 2015.