Image: Supplied.

A new outright MotoGP lap record of 1m27.246s at Phillip Island saw Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin comfortably qualify on pole position ahead of this afternoon’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Martin was over fourth-tenths clear of Friday pace-setter Brad Binder (Red Bul KTM Factory Racing), and over half a second clear of his own previous record set last year.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) successfully transferred from qualifying one to secure a front-row position in Q2. Leading Aprilia Racing Team rider was Aleix Espargaro in P4, as Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing) completed the second row, the number 49 the last rider in the 1m27s bracket.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) made it through qualifying one to head the third row of the grid in P7, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller to line-up P8. Miller was visibly upset with Aleix Espargaro in his second run. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) qualified ninth and 10th respectively ahead of the brought-forward full-length 27-lap race this afternoon.

A new outright Moto2 lap record of 1m32.128s was set by Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) in this morning’s Moto2 practice session, while in Moto3, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) concluded practice on top with a 1m36.403s, as Australia’s Joel Kelso (CFMoto Pruestel GP) was right in contention and third fastest ahead of qualifying for the category.

Detailed results