Australian MotoGP 2022: Qualifying results, Jack Miller 8th, Jorge Martin lap record

Zarco’s time on the Pramac Ducati was recorded before showers swept over the circuit.

Marquez, who will start from second in today’s race, didn’t record a time from the session because he fell at the start of the Southern Loop. The Spaniard had also slipped the rear tyre as he exited the pits.

Aussie Jack Miller was sixth in the warm-up with countryman Remy Gardner 18th on the KTM.

Maverick Vinales was second-fastest on the Aprilia, with champion Fabio Quartararo third on the factory Yamaha.

As the riders returned to the pits, the sun shone again over the circuit. The race is expected to be held in dry conditions.

MILLER’S SECRET WEAPON IN VICIOUS PHILLIP ISLAND BATTLE

Aussie MotoGP favourite Jack Miller believes the arduous nature of the Phillip Island race will give him a chance of victory despite starting from eighth on the grid.

The punishing 27 laps of the sweeping 4.4km circuit today will test tyres and endurance of all riders and may catch out some with limited experience, Miller said.

“I mean, it’s a long race around here,’’ Miller said.

“When I led (in 2016) the first seven or eight laps of this Grand Prix – like a dickhead I rode off like an absolute idiot. Smoked my tires, and I can tell you that was the longest 10 laps of my life towards the end of the race.’’

Spanish Ducati rider and new lap record holder Jorge Martin is on pole with three-time island winner Marc Marquez second.

The factory Honda star is slowly returning to his peak after a persistent arm injury which required major surgery.

Third on the grid is Miller’s Pecco Bagnaia who has been hauling in champion Fabio Quartararo’s lead in the second half of the season.

Riders have morning warm-up before the race at 2pm.

Light rain at Phillip Island forced most riders back into the pits as the morning warm-up session began.

Only half of the field ventured out of their garages and most only did two or three laps. Frenchman Johann Zarco completed four laps before returning to the shelter of the pits.

Today’s forecast is cloudy and 16C maximum.

RECORD BROKEN AS MILLER UP AGAINST IT

Spanaird Jorge Martin broke the Phillip Island lap record to secure pole for Sunday’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Martin guided his Pramac Ducati to a time of 1 min 27.767 sec to break Jorge Lorenzo’s nine-year-old record in a blistering qualifying session.

Marc Marquez on the factory Honda and factory Ducati rider Pecco Bagnaia will share the front row after qualifying at the 4.44km circuit.

Australian Jack Miller will start from the third row in 8th place for his home grand prix.

Defending champion and this year’s series leader Fabio Quartararo was fifth, just behind Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro with Friday’s fastest man Johann Zarco sixth on the Pramac Ducati.

Martin, making his first appearance on a MotoGP machine at the track, said he was happy to eclipse Lorenzo’s 2013 mark.

“For sure, it’s time to beat those records because the bikes are much faster now,’’ he said.

Marquez, a three-time winner at the island, said he was delighted to be on the front line of the starting grid.

“The feeling is coming with the bike, I feel better and better,’’ Marquez said.

Australian Remy Gardner will start from 19th on the Tech KTM.

Earlier, three-time Phillip Island winner Marc Marquez scorched his rivals in Saturday morning practice of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, steering his factory Honda to the top of the timesheets.

Second was VR46 Ducati rider Luca Marini and then Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati.

Australian Jack Miller made Q2 qualifying by being sixth after a disappointing 13th on Friday.

Championship leader Fabio Quartararo squeezed his factory Yamaha into the top 10 late in the session.

Friday’s fastest rider Johann Zarco missed the Q2 line-up, finishing 11th on the Ducati.

The grid’s other Aussie Remy Gardner was in 22nd, but just 1.229 seconds behind Marquez in a session where times tumbled as the track surface warmed up.

The lap times for the top 17 riders were within one second.

Earlier, a wandering goose on the Phillip Island circuit ended the Moto3 practice session.

The Cape Barren goose was spotted on the track at the end of the session. The native bird is common across Phillip Island.

In Friday morning’s practice, a wallaby bounded across the track near Hayshed just missing Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro.

Aussie MotoGP star set for huge Phillip Island honour

Aussie MotoGP star Jack Miller will be honoured at Phillip Island when part of the circuit is renamed Miller Corner.

Turn 4, once known as Honda Corner, was renamed in a ceremony today with Grand Prix officials.

The 4.4km circuit already honours previous Aussie greats – (Casey) Stoner Corner, (Mick) Doohan Corner and (Wayne) Gardner Straight.

Miller said that he first watched the action at Turn 4 when he visited the track as a 14-year-old.

“It’s amazing. I remember coming here my first time watching a grand prix in 2009 and just being able to sneak up over here and watch the boys … and ever since that day I knew that that’s what I wanted to do.

“I can’t even begin to describe what the journey we’ve been on and what we’ve been through.’’

Miller said he felt “minute” compared to Aussie legends Stoner, Gardner and Doohan.

“Just to be even mentioned in the same sentence is amazing and to be on the corner on the same track as those guys, it’s just testament to everybody, my family, everybody around me that that’s helped put me in this position.’’

Five-time world champion Doohan attended the naming ceremony with the Miller family – parents Peter and Sonya and wife Ruby.

Miller won at the island in 2014 in Moto3 class, and finished third in MotoGP in the last race at the track in 2019.

The factory Ducati team rider also unveiled his home GP helmet design.

Miller was 13th fastest in Friday practice sessions.

Aussie struggles as Wallaby makes cameo at Phillip Island

At Phillip Island, always expect the unexpected. Unpredictable conditions at the coastal track threw up an unlikely trio of riders who were fastest in the opening practice sessions of the 2022 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Frenchman Johann Zarco surprised the favourites, piloting the Pramac Ducati to be quickest overall on a day which heralded MotoGP’s return to the circuit after three years.

Aussie crowd favourite Jack Miller had a disappointing day, more than half a second off the pace, finishing in 13th position.

Zarco crossed the line just 0.038 seconds ahead of VR46 Racing Ducati rider Marco Bezecchi.

Factory Honda team member Pol Espargaro, 17th in the championship, was a shock third fastest, ahead of series leader Fabio Quartararo on the Yamaha.

Zarco was fastest in both sessions and said he had a base to build on for the weekend.

“I think for many riders we forgot how fast is this track and the corners, so it was like shock to be on the track at the beginning,’’ Zarco said.

“It was good to get some confidence and some references from the track.’’

“Getting fast here is incredible and when you can do it it is good but if you suffer a bit then it can be a nightmare.’’

Miller said the morning session went well but had trouble with the rear tyre in the afternoon.

“It is not the most ideal first day but I’ve had worse,’’ Miller said.

“I just wasn’t able to really push or put a lap together. So we’ve got some ideas of what we need to change for tomorrow

“But it’s one of those things at Phillip Island … where you’ve got to try and set the bike up almost completely different to any other track around.’’

Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, who won the Australian GP in 2018, was fifth fastest, ahead of three-time Phillip Island winner Marc Marquez and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia).

Remy Gardner was 22nd on the Tech 3 KTM.

Earlier, 19-year-old Australian Joel Kelso was 12th fastest in Moto3 practice and is set to go into Q2 qualifying on Saturday.

The CIP Green Power rider was fourth fastest in the morning session when the track and tyres were cooler.

Thousands of fans had arrived early at the track, eager to enjoy motorcycle racing after a three-year break. The official day one attendance was 20,150.

During morning practice a wallaby bounded across the track just avoiding contact with Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia.

DELUGE LEFT PHILLIP ISLAND TRACK UNDER WATER

Australian MotoGP officials will inspect the condition of the Phillip Island track this morning after Thursday’s deluge.

Parts of the circuit were covered with water overnight, especially around the Southern Loop and Stoner Corner.

The first bikes are due on the track at 9am with the MotoGP riders scheduled for their first practice session at 9.55am.

The three-day Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix returns to the island after a three-year break.

In 2019, Saturday qualifying was abandoned because of high winds.

The Friday forecast for Phillip Island is for showers and winds of up to 40kmh.

Hundreds of fans poured through the GP circuit gates which opened at 8am.

Heavy rain forced the closure of many of the car parks so patrons were being taken to the track in free shuttle buses.

A large section of the circuit campground was also closed.

AUSSIE MILLER’S THREAT TO DEFY HIS TEAM IN HOME GP

Aussie Ducati rider Jack Miller has declared he will go for the win at his home Grand Prix regardless of team orders.

The 27-year-old Queenslander is still in with an outside shot at the title so believes he can run his own race.

Miller is fifth in the championship, 40 points from leader Fabio Quartararo on the factory Yamaha with three races to go.

But Miller’s factory Ducati teammate Pecco Bagnaia is just two points behind the Frenchman and has a strong case for priority.

“I know what I need to do,’’ Miller said. “If I’m fighting for a win, I’ll go for the win. It’s as simple as that, especially at a home Grand Prix.

“I’ve been in contention all the time. I never been out of contention. Because till you’re fully mathematically out, you’re not out. With MotoGP at the end of the day somebody can get injured, anything can happen.’’

Also Miller is leaving Ducati at the end of the season so has every reason to ignore any team instructions to let Bagnaia pass.

Miller finished third at the last Australian race in 2019 and loves the circuit, and local fans are hoping he can be the first winner at the island since Casey Stoner in 2012.

Miller’s former LCR Honda teammate Cal Crutchlow believes the Aussie is in a good position to claim a hometown victory.

“At this stage Jack is the favourite to win here although anything can happen so you never know.

“Jack’s on a roll right now and he’s looking good.’’

Crutchlow, now with RNF Yamaha satellite team, has mostly good memories of the island circuit himself, winning in 2016 and finishing second behind Marc Marquez in 2019.

“It’s a special circuit and if you know the tricks of the trade you can do well here.

“I didn’t expect to be back this year. Phillip Island has been kind and not so kind to me over the years.

A nasty crash in 2018 meant Crutchlow spent 17 days in the Alfred and Cabrini hospitals in Melbourne for ankle surgery.

The 36-year-old Englishman is now a test rider for Yamaha but was called back into race action to replace Andrea Dovizioso for the final six races.

Two MotoGP practice sessions will be held on Friday, at 9.55am and 2.10pm. Teams will be watching the skies with showers and wind forecast to sweep over the 4.4km circuit.

The weather is expected to improve as the weekend progresses. The 27-lap MotoGP race starts at 2pm on Sunday.

In 2019, Saturday qualifying was postponed to Sunday morning because of high winds.

Aussie ace’s cheeky dig at championship doubters

In-form Australian Ducati rider Jack Miller believes he can carry recent good results into his home MotoGP with victory possible at Phillip Island this weekend.

Miller said his past two results had him well-placed to not only win at the island after a three-year absence but also an outside shot at the championship.

“That’s the expectation (to win) going in,” Miller said.

“I feel good. I felt really good last weekend in the wet and in the dry.

“We were close coming off the winner in Japan and then the second last week out in Thailand.

“We can fairly say that we’re coming in here with higher expectations.’’

Miller is in fifth place in the championship, 40 points off leader Fabio Quartararo. But Miller’s Ducati teammate Pecco Bagnaia is just two points behind the Frenchman with three races to go.

But the Queenslander could still spring a surprise, and is favoured by a home race, followed by a potentially wet track in Malaysia before the final round in Valencia, where he has been on the podium for the past three years.

“I was never out of it,’’ Miller said. “For sure, (it was) more difficult than others but we’ve been consistently plugging away.

“Even in the lead-up to the last couple of Grand Prix, I was still mathematically in with a shout into the shadows and people are just starting to realise now.

“But we won’t look at that too much. I don’t want to even focus on that. My goal is to do the best I can in these last three races for Ducati.’’

Miller will leave the Ducati camp after the final round, ending a five-year partnership and will join the factory KTM team next year.

Miller brushed off concerns about the variable weather at the coast-side track which often bears the brunt of winds off the Southern Ocean.

“It is what is, that’s all part of Phillip Island and that’s what makes it the place it is, it’s all the elements getting involved,’’ he said.

Five-time 500cc world champion Mick Doohan said the island circuit could be the place for defending champion Quartararo to get his season back on track and see off the Ducati challenge.

“Quartararo’s been strong and he’s been strong on an underperforming bike. It certainly handles well but doesn’t seem to have the power of the Ducatis,’’ Doohan told the In The Fast Lane podcast.

“That said, there’s still a few races to go so I wouldn’t give up on Quartararo.’’

KTM Tech 3 team rider Remy Gardner will join Miller in the race. It will be the first time two Aussies have been on the grid since 2007, when Casey Stoner and Chris Vermuelen were vying for honours.

Gardner has been dropped by KTM and will join the World Superbike series next year, riding for Yamaha. The 24-year-old is still hoping to feature in his home race, even on a bike that has struggled to be competitive all year.

“The top 15, in the points, would be good,” he said. “We’re keeping expectations realistic but hopefully (we can have) a good scrap in the race and put on a good show.’’

TOP 5 – MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha 219

2. Pecco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 217

3. Aleix Espargaró (ESP) Aprilia 199

4. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati 180

5. Jack Miller (AUS) Ducati 179

Originally published as Australian MotoGP 2022: Latest news for big race at Phillip Island