Image: Russell Colvin.

World champion Marc Marquez has claimed the MotoGP pole position in the 2018 Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Repsol Honda rider pressing ahead in mixed conditions.

The rain started to fall, but it didn’t last long as home hero Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) led the charge to set the first reference lap-time.

Marquez eventually posted a brave 1m29.199s lap-time at the 4.445-kilometre seaside circuit, 0.310s quicker than Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha) in second and Johan Zarco (Monster Energy Yamaha Tech3) to complete the front row of the grid.

Practice pace-setter Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) once again factored at the front in fourth, joined on row two by teammate Alex Wins and Miller, who displayed plenty of courage in the conditions after going down in FP4 beforehand.

Positions seven through 10 were filled by Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha), Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) in his worst qualifying of the year and top of the rookies Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Energy Yamaha Tech3). Mike Jones (Angel Nieto Team) posted a 1m32.639s to round out the field in 23rd.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Moto2 qualifying threw up a surprise, but Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) taking pole number three of 2018 wasn’t one of them.

The Italian, despite a late crash at turn four, will launch from P1 after setting a quickest time of 1m33.368s, 0.256s ahead of Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP) in second with his teammate Xavi Vierge third.

The surprise story of Saturday afternoon at Phillip Island comes from the top two in the championship. Points-leader Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) could only manage P16, his worst qualifying of the season, and title rival Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had to settle for 20th.

Of the two Australians in the field riding for Tech3 Racing, Remy Gardner posted a 1m34.181s for 15th, with Bryan Staring going 1m35.760s for P24 on the grid in what will be his first-career start in the mid-tier of GP racing.

Image: Russell Colvin.

In Moto3 Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) stormed to a 10th pole position of the season, beating second-place Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by 0.257s.

That marked a maiden front row start for the South African, as title challenger Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) could only manage to qualify in P15. Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) propelled himself onto the outside of the front row on his final lap.

Detailed results