Pole-man Espargaró heads Phillip Island warm-up

Today’s pole-sitter, Tuenti Movil HP 40’s Pol Espargaró, was once again quickest as he led the morning warm-up at the AirAsia Australian Grand Prix ahead of Marc Márquez and Scott Redding.

Set in dry but overcast conditions, Espargaró’s time of 1.33’740 held off Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s Márquez, who had a short excursion off track half way through the session. Today’s other front-row starter, Marc VDS Racing Team’s Redding, confirmed himself as a podium favourite by once again being on top-three pace.

GP Team Switzerland’s Randy Krummenacher continued his good comeback from injury as he came fourth, ahead of Interwetten-Paddock’s compatriot Tom Lüthi, who suffered a crash towards the end of the session. As well as Lüthi, there were also crashes for Tech 3 Racing’s Xavier Siméon and JiR Moto2’s Johann Zarco. None of the riders were injured.

NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Alex de Angelis has been declared unfit for today’s race with a fourth left finger abrasion with a tendon lesion and a fracture in the fifth finger, sustained in a crash yesterday. The San Marino is undergoing surgery at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne today.