Neither the wind nor the cold could stop Jorge Martin on the Australian circuit Phillip Islandwhere the first training session on a completely dry track took place from the qualifying session. The Spaniard demonstrated overwhelming superiority and found himself 50 thousandths from the absolute record on the track located on the shores of the Tasman Sea, achieving his seventh pole of the season.
They will accompany the MotoGP leader on the front row of the grid Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales. The Gresini Racing team driver was almost six tenths behind the time set by Jorge Martín (1:27.296) after being the fastest of the two free practice sessions organized this weekend, while the Aprilia rider took advantage of the speed always demonstrated on this stage.
Jorge Martín opted at the start of the qualifying session for the front hard tirea strategy which was later copied – although unsuccessfully – by both Pecco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, who did not have time to warm up the hard tyres. The MotoGP leader was just over a tenth behind Maverick Viñales during the first stint, but as soon as he put on the second soft rear tire, he didn’t leave a single crumb behind him.
Don’t say Jorge Martín. SAY MISTER POLE POSITION ⏱️💥
SEVENTH time @88jorgemartin will start first, with Marc Márquez second, Viñales third… And Pecco Bagnaia 5th 👀#AustraliaGP 🇦🇺 #MotoGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/rPGOHmkz5T
– DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) October 19, 2024
Pecco Bagnaia will take the exit fifth positionhis worst result this season since seventh place at Jerez. The reigning champion switched to the hard front tire too late and found himself more than a second from pole time directed by Jorge Martín.
Just in front of Pecco Bagnaia he will start Marco Bezzecchi while Raúl Fernández (sixth) completes the second row of the starting grid after successfully completing the repechage.
