PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia —
Jorge Martin smashed the nine-year-old Phillip Island lap record on Saturday to grab pole
position for the Australian MotoGP, with world champion Fabio Quartararo coming
in fifth.
اضافة اعلان
In dry and partly cloudy conditions, the Spaniard
ensured he will start at the front of the grid on Sunday with a blistering lap
of one minute and 27.767 seconds.
It shattered the 1:27.899 mark held by Jorge Lorenzo
since 2013 and, incredibly, came with the Ducati-Pramac rider having never
driven the picturesque waterfront circuit before this weekend.
“It’s time to beat those records because the bikes
are faster now,” said Martin. “Yesterday I struggled a bit because I was a bit
lost, it is my first time here and I had to take the measurement (of the
track). But finally today I had good pace.”
“I thought I could be competitive, but not this
competitive. Making 1:27 is amazing. Hopefully we can fight till the end
tomorrow,” he added.
Six-time world
champion Marc Marquez amazingly saved a crash when he lost the front end of his
Honda and spun at turn 10 on his first lap, but recovered to take second, 0.013
behind, also under Lorenzo’s time.
“I’m not a little bit happy, I’m a lot,” said
Marquez, who is a three-time winner at Phillip Island and only recently back
from yet another bad injury. “The most important thing is the feeling is coming
with the bike, so step by step I am feeling better.”
“And physically feeling better... is a key point for
me,” he added.
World championship leader Quartararo of Yamaha
finished fifth, but behind fellow title contender Francesco Bagnaia, who will
start third on his Ducati.
“It’s always very important to be in the front row,”
said Bagnaia as he eyes a maiden world crown.
Quartararo holds a slender two-point lead in the
standings over the Italian, with three grands prix left in the 20-race season.
Just 40 points separate the top five, with all
mathematically in the title fight.
Among the contenders, Spain’s
Aleix Espargaro
(Aprilia) was fourth-fastest and Australian hope Jack Miller (Ducati) eighth.
But Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati), who is 39
points adrift, could only muster 13th, to put a massive dent in his slender
hopes.
Miller also has work to do, but will leave Phillip
Island with a corner officially named after him on Saturday.
Turn 4, the circuit’s famous hairpin, will now be
known as Miller Corner in his honor.
“It’s an unreal part of the track, and so many
historical moments have happened here. So I feel so fortunate to be able to
claim this one,” said the Australian.
Miller is the fourth Australian rider to have part
of the iconic Phillip Island layout officially named after him.
Legendary 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner,
five-time title winner Mick Doohan, and former world champion Casey Stoner have
also been honored.
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