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Edition

Australia
Qualifying report

Marquez dominates and smashes pole position record at the Brickyard

Repsol Honda rider takes fourth pole position of his career in devastating fashion

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Repsol Media

Marc Marquez sealed the fourth MotoGP pole position of his career during today’s qualifying for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix and with it smashing the pole position record on his Repsol Honda RC23V machine with a scintillating lap time of 1m 37.958s. Jorge Lorenzo tried his best to catch his fellow countryman but the reigning MotoGP world champion had to settle for second with a best time of 1m 38.471s with Dani Pedrosa making it an all Spanish front row wit the Repsol Honda rider setting a best lap of 1m 38.485s.

I set a very good time and I think for tomorrow we are ready to fight for victory.

Marc Marquez

Cal Crutchlow was demoted into a 4th place start and scrubbed his final lap to end up with a time of 1m 38.502s while Alvaro Bautista showed grit and determination to secure a place in the middle of the second row with the Go&Fun Honda Gresini man setting a best lap of 1m 38.872s. Nicky Hayden gave the home fans something to cheer about with the Ducati Team rider registering a best time of 1m 39.142s while Bradley Smith set the 7th fastest time of 1m 39.255s for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team while Stefan Bradl had a torrid time today with a crash in free practice earlier today and another in qualifying leaving the LCR Honda rider with an 8th place start and a best lap of 1m 39.313s.

Valentino Rossi had a day to forget with the Yamaha Factory Racing rider setting the 9th best time of 1m 39.356s with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) starting from 10th tomorrow with a best time of 1m 39.555s and Andrea Dovizioso to start from 11th with the Energy TI Pramac Racing rider setting a best lap of 1m 40.042s and Colin Edwards securing the final place on the fourth row for the NGM Mobile Forward Racing team with a best lap time of 1m 40.372s. Aleix Espargaro had a heavy fall this afternoon but the Power Electronics Aspar rider managed to take part in the first part of qualifying but didn’t manage to get into the top 12 with a best lap of 1m 40.444s.

Danilo Petrucci will start from 14th with the Came IodaRacing Project rider setting a best lap of 1m 41.122s with Power Electronics Aspar’s Randy De Puniet close behind with a 1m 41.154s lap and Claudio Corti set the 16th fastest time of 1m 41.334s on the second of the NGM Mobile Forward Racing machines. Hector Barbera fell off his Avintia Blusens machine while circulating at a rapid rate but the Spaniard will have to settle for the 17th best time of 1m 41.527s while Paul Bird Motorsport’s Michael Laverty will start from 18th with a best time of 1m 41.618s.

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Yamaha MotoGP

Hiroshi Aoyama starts from 19th for the Avintia Blusens team (1m 41.665s) while Go&Fun Honda Gresini’s Bryan Staring will start from 20th with a best time of 1m 41.786s. Yonny Hernandez will start from 21st for the Paul Bird Motorsport team on a best lap of 1m 41.807s with Came IodaRacing’s Lukas Pesek starting from 22nd (1m 41.868s) and Karel Abraham next along on a best time of 1m 42.165s for the Cardion AB Motoracing team. Wildcard entry Blake Young took the final qualifying spot for the Attack Performance Racing team setting a best time of 1m 44..472s

There was more bad luck for the returning Ben Spies and the Ignite Pramac Racing team with the American rider going over the handlebars of his machine to fall heavily in the third free practice session this morning and following medical examinations when he returned to the on-site medical center, it was confirmed that Spies had broken his left collarbone and is unfit to take part in tomorrow’s race.

Marquez was very pleased with his performance today saying, “I'm happy with how things went in the qualifying session. Obviously taking pole is important, but it's tomorrow that really counts. Besides that, the conditions change a lot, tire durability suffers and it will be tough as the race progresses. We knew the qualifying session was all about the single flying lap, the tyres had a lot of grip then and I took advantage of it. I set a very good time and I think for tomorrow we are ready to fight for victory. As always, we will give one hundred percent.”

Lorenzo wasn’t too unsatisfied with his performance today and said afterwards, “I’m happy with the pace, it’s not bad. We still don't know how well our rivals are prepared for the race but I think I have a constant pace to finish the race with a good speed. The bike has improved by some small details every session so I’m happy with that also. I’m happy to be back on the first row and confident we can fight for the podium. You can see that Marc, Dani and Stefan are really strong, normally we are with them but it's clear that this track is not so suitable for our bike, but it’s much better than it was in 2011. I am confident that we can fight to be not far from first position or maybe to fight for first.”

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Repsol Media

Following a difficult day yesterday, Pedrosa was much happier with his progress today. He said, “Today went well, we were able to improve our times, so I'm happy! Starting from the first row is good for us and the feeling with the bike is more positive, but we still have to choose the rear tire. The important thing for tomorrow is to start well and have a good race.”

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Edition

Australia