Phillip Island, the pole Marquez on Honda. Lorenzo 3rd, Rossi in the third row – The Messenger

PHILLIP ISLAND – Spaniard Marc Marquez took pole position at the Australian Grand Prix, the third last round of the World MotoGP. At Phillip Island, the world champion in office stopped the chrono of 1’28 “364, 316 thousandths ahead of Andrea Iannone (Ducati) and another Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha).

leader of the drivers’ standings, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) will start from the third row having scored a delay of 650 milliseconds from Marquez (7 / or time). In second Dani Pedrosa (Honda), Cal Crutchlow (Honda) and Maverick Vinales (Suzuki). Still reasons for recrimination Jorge Lorenzo, who finished with the third fastest time of the qualifying Australian Grand Prix. If a week ago at Motegi there were tensions with the companion-rival Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island today the target was another Italian Andrea Iannone: the Ducati rider finished ahead of him but with the same time (+316 thousandths Marc Marquez), would take advantage of the wake of the Majorcan mock him for the final positioning on the grid.

“I gave my best and I am satisfied – explained Lorenzo immediately after qualifying – But, of course, do so and then … The second place was clearly better than the third, and tomorrow will be difficult to overtake Andrea. But fortunately Valentino is in the third row. ” “Everyone pulls water to his mill – was justified Iannone – On the other hand, Jorge I had passed and it was before. In qualifying we struggle and we know that is hard to beat: so I took the opportunity, I’m sorry. “

great satisfaction, of course, for Marquez, ‘subscriber’ to pole position (is the eighth season of 16 trials). “After free practice I was hoping a little better – it is schermito the world champion of Honda who had excelled in FP3 and FP4 – but I did not do a perfect lap. Tomorrow will be an interesting race, at least point to a podium with Yamaha we have seen that such a step. But Rossi in the race turns … “.

Race uphill, tomorrow at the Grand Prix of Australia, for Valentino Rossi, who in today’s qualifying did not go well the seventh fastest time, 650 thousandths from pole Marc Marquez. “I’m very happy with my pace – admits the leader of the World MotoGP – are fairly constant with used tires, but they are not fast enough. The fact is that I did make the step I wanted, the ride is not bad but only seventh. Now we need to think for tomorrow, it will be pretty difficult, I’m missing a few tenths. “

The Yamaha rider does not hide his disappointment at the lack of progress shown in the two days of testing. “We tested some things we thought we did improve, but it did not go well,” notes the nine-time world champion, then explaining to have problems, especially out of the corners of Phillip Island: “When should I give gas, I am still too bent. Tires? Bridgestone was very conservative, the tires are very hard and it is hard to prevent them from slipping. ”