Traffic baulks Aussie favourite on Saturday afternoon.
As Saturday’s Moto3 Tissot Australian Grand Prix QP action came to a close, it was Alex Marquez who took pole position, with Alex Rins and Juanfran Guevara also on the front row.
In a session which saw the riders battling against traffic around the picturesque Phillip Island circuit, Aussie hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) salvaged a third row start in eighth after a single flyer late in the session.
The session was another promising one for Remy Gardner ending up 24th for Team Laglisse Calvo with a 1m37.472 on his CEV-specification KTM. Completing the Aussie contingents is Olly Simpson, slotting his private KTM into 33rd with a 1m38.993.
Championship leader Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) got his third pole of 2014 with a 1m36.050 lap to qualify just 0.014s ahead of his second placed teammate Rins. Guevara (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3) took third place by 0.339s.
On the second row Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) and John McPhee (SaxoPrint-RTG) qualified in front of Efren Vazquez (SaxoPrint-RTG).
Miller qualified in the middle of the third row, sandwiched by Jasper Iwema (CIP) and Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold). Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46) will line up on the grid in 10th.
Two seconds covered the top 29 in the session highlighting the competitiveness of the class once again.
Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold) fell early in the session and was able to rejoin. Niklas Ajo (Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo) lost the front at turn one, suffering a fracture of fifth finger on the left hand, but he is fit to race on Sunday.
Eric Granado (Calvo Team) took a very heavy fall, his second of the day, and like Ajo was taken to the medical center. Suffering dorsal pain Granado was later taken to Dandenong hospital for CT scan after initial X-rays did not show any injury. Enea Bastianini (Junior Team GO&FUN Gresini) also had a small off in the closing stages.
2014 MotoGP World Championship
Round 16 – Phillip Island, VIC
Moto3 qualifying results:
1. Alex MARQUEZ 1m36.050
2. Alex RINS 1m36.064
3. Juanfran GUEVARA 1m36.389
4. Danny KENT 1m36.419
5. John MCPHEE 1m36.521
6. Efren VAZQUEZ 1m36.572
7. Jasper IWEMA 1m36.640
8. Jack MILLER 1m36.672
9. Alexis MASBOU 1m36.688
10. Romano FENATI 1m36.692
24. Remy GARDNER 1m37.472
33. Olly SIMPSON 1m38.993