MotoGP Qualifying Results From Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix Qualifying Results
1. Marc MARQUEZ (93), Repsol Honda Team HONDA
2. Cal CRUTCHLOW (35) LCR Honda HONDA
3. Pol ESPARGARO (44) Monster Tech 3 YAMAHA
4. Aleix ESPARGARO (41) Team Suzuki Ecstar SUZUKI
5. Jack MILLER (43) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS HONDA
6. Danilo PETRUCCI (9) OCTO Pramac Yakhnich DUCATI
7. Nicky HAYDEN (69) Repsol Honda Team HONDA
8. Stefan BRADL (6) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA
9. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (4) Ducati Team DUCATI
10. Hector BARBERA (8) Avintia Racing DUCATI
11. Scott REDDING (45) OCTO Pramac Yakhnich DUCATI
12. Jorge LORENZO (99) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA
13. Maverick VIÑALES (25) Team Suzuki Ecstar SUZUKI
14. Bradley SMITH (38) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA
15. Valentino ROSSI (46) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA
16. Eugene LAVERTY (50) Aspar Team MotoGP DUCATI
17. Yonny HERNANDEZ (68) Aspar Team MotoGP DUCATI
18. Alvaro BAUTISTA (19) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA
19. Mike JONES (7) DUCATI
20. Loris BAZ (76) Avintia Racing DUCATI
21. Tito RABAT (53) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS HONDA

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has taken pole position at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, as the new World Champion chose the perfect moment to head out in the changing conditions on full slick tires. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) starts from P2 after graduating from Q1, with Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completing the front row.

With Q1 seeing some incredibly high profile casualties, it was Crutchlow and Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) who moved through to fight for the front, leaving Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) behind with Rossi in P15 on the grid, his worst qualifying performance since 2011.

The track was drying in Q1, and drier by the start of Q2. With rain forecast to hit halfway through the second qualifying session however, the pressure was on to do a good lap – and choose the right tire. With some heading out on intermediates, Marquez then came back in quickly to switch to slicks. He was untouchable from that point on, and 1.5 seconds clear a few minutes later until the grid began to reel him closer. Pol Espargaro was late to switch, attempting a fast lap on the intermediates, before coming back in for slicks and then taking the front row. Crutchlow didn’t quite take the full gamble, and set his front row qualifier on an intermediate front and slick rear.

Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) came out in the session to challenge for the front and will start fourth ahead of Aussie Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) at his home race, who completed the top five in his best ever qualifying result. Locking out Row 2 is Octo Pramac Yakhnich rider Danilo Petrucci.

Nicky Hayden, riding in place of injured Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda, took an impressive P7 ahead of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini rider Stefan Bradl who is also set to become Hayden's teammate in 2017 at Honda World Superbike Team. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) completes the third row in ninth, finding it a little tougher as the track dried. His teammate, Hector Barbera, standing in for injured Andrea Iannone, completed the top 10.

Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) will start from 11th, ahead of 5-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), who struggled in Q2 after having graduated from Q1.