Prima Pramac’s Jorge Martin celebrated pole position at Phillip Island after breaking namesake Lorenzo’s 2013 all-time lap record with a 1’27.767 effort. Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez trailed the Ducati by just 0.013s with factory Lenovo rider Pecco Bagnaia completing the front row in the hotly contested session.
Just two tenths of a second covering the top five by the end of play. Qualifying kicked off with Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales having topped FP4 from Friday hero Johann Zarco and Mooney VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi while Marquez controlled the morning’s FP3 - from the second VR46 machine of Luca Marini.
Suzuki Ecstar’s returning Joan Mir set the Q1 pace with a 1’28.611 as Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro set his sights on the second promotion position.
The Spaniard’s impressive pace - after third overall on Friday - dented as Gresini’s Enea Bastianini bettered overall to demote him out of contention.