Johann Zarco grabbed pole position for Iveco Australian Grand Prix just before crashing out of the qualifying session. Cortese and Folger will join the Frenchman on the front row, while Championship leader Terol heads the second row.
Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) took his fourth pole of the season and his career at Phillip Island after leading much of the qualifying practice Saturday afternoon, just before closing the outing with a high speed fall that he fortunately walked away from.
The Frenchman’s time of 1’39.207 was the fastest of the day though Sandro Cortese’s lap set in the better conditions Friday morning remained quickest of the weekend. The Intact Racing Team Germany team rider, who qualified second at the Australian circuit last year, will join Zarco on the front row after posting a lap of 1’39.558. Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) equalled his best grid position of the season, third, after lapping behind Cortese by a margin of 0.052s.
Nicolas Terol, who mathematically can take the title this weekend if he can increase his current 31 point advantage to 50 points over Zarco, was fourth with a time of 1’39.702. The Bankia Aspar rider heads an all Spanish row with Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) and Efrén Vázquez (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) joining him.
Row three is comprised of Danny Kent (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport), Alberto Moncayo (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica) and Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing), all three less than a tenth over a one second margin of Zarco’s pole setting time.
Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) crashed out of the session early, his time set on lap five was quick enough to land him tenth in the line up. Harry Stafford (Ongetta-Centro Seta) and Josep Rodriguez (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) and Jakub Kornfeil (Ongetta-Centro Seta) also had falls, the three will start from 18th, 21st and 13th, respectively.
