It was a history-making day of qualifying at the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) broke a nine-year-old all-time lap record. There is an opportunity for more history to be created over the course of 27 thrilling laps at the majestic Phillip Island, so let’s check out the 10 things you need to know ahead of lights out Down Under.
1. Jorge Martin has qualified on pole position for the seventh time in MotoGP™, the third time so far this season along with the Qatar and the Americas GP. He set a new all-time lap record at Phillip Island, which was the longest standing left on the calendar after Jorge Lorenzo set it in 2013.
2. Martin becomes the second Ducati rider to qualify on pole at Phillip Island along with Casey Stoner in 2008, 2009 and 2010; 2010 is also the most recent Ducati win at the track in the premier class. In addition, this is Ducati’s 14th pole position so far this season, extending the record of the Bologna factory in a single MotoGP™ season.
3. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has qualified second, meaning he has qualified on the front row at Phillip Island every year since he stepped to MotoGP™ in 2013. He will be aiming to win for the first time since Emilia-Romagna last year (357 days).
4. Second in the Championship, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has qualified third, which is the eleventh time so far this year he has qualified in the top three (although he started fifth in San Marino due to a penalty). He will be aiming to become the second Ducati rider to win more than six times in a single premier class season along with Stoner (10 in 2007).
5. Thanks to Martin and Bagnaia, this is the 38th successive race where there is at least one Ducati rider within the top three in qualifying.
6. Third in the Championship, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) has qualified fourth. It is the 12th time so far this year that he has qualified on the front two rows (although in Japan he started from pitlane), and Aprilia’s best premier class qualifying result at Phillip Island since Jeremy McWilliams was on pole in 2000.
8. After advancing from Q1, Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) has qualified sixth, which is the 14th time so far this year he starts from the front two rows of the grid. He is still aiming to take his maiden MotoGP™ win.
8. After advancing from Q1, Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) has qualified sixth, which is the 14th time so far this year he starts from the front two rows of the grid. He is still aiming to take his maiden MotoGP™ win.
9. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) has qualified seventh, which is the eighth time so far this year he starts from the front three rows. He will be aiming to take his maiden MotoGP™ podium (his best result so far being P4).
10. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) has qualified eighth, his worst qualifying result since he was 11th in Catalunya earlier this year – although he won from seventh at Motegi. He will be aiming to become the first Australian rider to win in the premier class at Phillip Island since Casey Stoner in 2012. He is still the most recent Australian rider to win a GP race at the track (in Moto3™ in 2014).