News 25 Oct 2014

Miller storms to tactical Sepang Moto3 pole

Aussie maintains title pressure as Alex Marquez falters.

Source: MotoGP.

Source: MotoGP.

Moto3 qualifying saw Jack Miller secure pole at the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix as he bids to keep his title fight alive, the Australian joined by John McPhee and Jakub Kornfeil on the front row.

A stunning lap of 2m12.450s saw Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claim his eighth pole of the year ahead of McPhee (SaxoPrint-RTG).

The Scottish rider was 0.459s off pole, whilst Kornfeil (Calvo Team) completed the front row and was 0.566s from Miller. Miller’s lap was almost 1.5 seconds faster than Luis Salom’s previous pole record from last year.

Efren Vazquez (SaxoPrint-RTG) and Alex Marquez (Estrella Falicia 0,0) completed the top five, despite Marquez falling. Marquez goes into the race with his first chance of wrapping up the 2014 Moto3 World Championship title.

Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46), Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo), Isaac Viñales (Calvo Team), Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra Racing) and rookie Enea Bastianini (Junior Team GO&FUN) completed the top 10.

Alex Rins (Estrella Falicia 0,0) starts from 17th, 1.994s slower than Miller.

Niccolo Antonelli (Junior Team GO&FUN Gresini) had technical problems early in the session, limiting his track time. Local hero Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Ongetta-AirAsia) was the first faller of the session. Scott Deroue (RW Racing GP) fell soon after.

Jasper Iwema (CIP) fell at turn six as the session approached the midway stage. The final five minutes saw Marquez also down at turn six, ending his session early. Kent and Juanfran Guevara (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3) collided on their second last laps. All riders were unhurt.

Remy Gardner will start his third grand prix of the season out of 29th, lapping 3.425s off the pole time on debut with Team Calvo KTM.

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