The starting grid for tomorrow’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit will see a number of new faces start toward the front of the grid, and a number of established stars forced to view the starter’s light from a further distance than they have become accustomed to.
Pole man Marc Marquez certainly won’t feel out of place at the head of the field, but beside him Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Pol Espargaro (Tech3) do not start as many MotoGP races from the front row as the man who has already wrapped up the 2016 MotoGP title.
Aussie Jack Mille (Honda) will start his home grand prix from the second row of the grid in fifth position. Interestingly, Miller’s time of 1m31.754s is more than a second faster than the seventh fastest rider Nicky Hayden (1m32.944). Hayden is substituting for the injured Dani Pedrosa on the Factory Repsol Honda, the bike many said Jack Miller should have been promoted to for his home grand prix.
Defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) will be in unfamiliar territory on the fourth row of the grid, however, his position is still three ahead of teammate Valentino Rossi who will line up on the fifth row of the grid in 15th position.
Aussie Mike Jones was just over a second slower than the multiple world champion, finishing the session in an impressive 19th position. He will start tomorrow’s race from the seventh row of the grid, and will have a good view of the two factory Yamaha pilots ahead.
The unpredictable Phillip Island weather could see the weekend’s run of upsets stretch to tomorrow’s race which is scheduled to get underway at 4pm
