(Reuters) – World Championship leader Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing put in an impressive performance on Saturday to take pole position ahead of six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez in qualifying ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
Martin secured his third consecutive pole at Phillip Island and sixth of the season with a stunning time of one minute 27.296, almost six tenths of a second clear of Gresini’s Marc Marquez, who had dominated the practice sessions.
Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales was third quickest, clocking one minute 27.991 to complete an all-Spanish front row, and Marco Bezzecchi of VR46 Racing was fourth.
Two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati, who trails Martin by 10 points in the championship standings, finished fifth after a slow tire change delayed his second run.
“For sure today it was a tricky day, with the wind it was drying fast, we didn’t know what to expect in the track. Finally I was able to improve in the second run,” Martin said in a post-qualifying interview.
“The race will be tough with Marc behind me but I think we are the best in terms of pace so let’s go for a good one.”
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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