Espargaró leads the way with first 2009 pole

Form 125cc rider Pol Espargaró will start the Iveco Australian Grand Prix on pole position after topping qualifying at Phillip Island.

The Derbi Racing star – who has won two of the last three GPs, at Indianapolis and Estoril – was the fastest rider in free practice, and he bettered his pace with a best lap of 1’37.770 on Saturday afternoon to secure only the third pole position of his career.

Hot on his heels was fellow Spaniard Nico Terol, who at 0.279s behind pushed Julían Simón down to third place. Simón, who is bidding to seal the world title this weekend, was a further 0.018s behind Terol to also secure a place on the front row of the grid.

Joining the Spanish trio, Simone Corsi (Fontana Racing) took fourth spot with a best time of 1’38.136 to make the front row for the first time this year.

Heading up the second row is Simón’s Bancaja Aspar team-mate Bradley Smith who, before a late crash at Honda Hairpin, managed to take over 0.5s off his best practice time to claim fifth place.

Marc Márquez (Red Bull KTM) and Sandro Cortese (Ajo Interwetten) were next in line, with Andrea Iannone (Ongetta Team ISPA), Joan Olivé (Derbi Racing) and Esteve Rabat (Blusens Aprilia) completing the top ten.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Smith’s British counterparts Danny Webb (Degraaf Grand Prix) and Scott Redding (Blusens Aprilia), with Webb suffering a high-side before qualifying in 21st, whilst problems with Redding’s Aprilia bike saw him take 24th.