Australian GP | Iannone Tops Warm Up.
Iannone topped the morning Warm Up session Philip Island. Viñales followed in 2nd, with Zarco hot on his heels in 3rd.
The Australian Grand Prix is the penultimate flyaway race of the calendar, however it always brings a weekend of thrills and spills. Marquez qualified on pole position for the 5th successive year at Philip Island, equally Honda’s Casey Stoner. Viñales has qualified 2nd for today’s race, followed by Yamaha compatriot Zarco, who starts from 3rd position, as Top Independent Team. Suzuki had an excellent qualifying session , with Iannone starting from 4th, for the 2nd year at Philip Island, and Rins starting from 5th. Home hero, Miller will start his Home GP from 6th position. Crutchlow suffered a huge crash, ending with an ankle injury, however this meant that Rookie of the Year contender Syahrin moved directly to Q2. Syahrin went on to qualify 10th, the best qualifying result of any of the Rookies so far this year. Bautista, who has been called up to the Factory Ducati Team, qualified 12th on the grid.
Iannone topped the session with a time of 1:29:254. Viñales closely followed in 2nd, with a time of 1:29:583, Zarco rounded out the top 3 with a time of 1:29:942.
Top Yamaha was Viñales in 2nd, closely followed Zarco in 3rd. Rossi set a time of 1:30:885, placing him 17th. Contender for Rookie of the Year, Syahrin placed 13th with a time of 1:30:701.
Top Ducati was Dovizioso finished morning Warm Up in 4th, setting a time of 1:30:020. Petrucci set a time of 1:30:300, which placed him 8th. Home hero, Miller placed 9th with a time of 1:30:358. Bautista, who has impressed in recent races and starts today’s Grand Prix from 12th, finished this morning’s warm up in 14th setting a time of 1:30:749, aboard the Factory Ducati GP18.
Top Suzuki was Iannone who topped the session. Rins set a time of 1:30:131 placing him 6th.
Top Honda was Marquez in 5th, setting a time of 1:30:072. Pedrosa set a time of 1:31:253 placing him 19th. Contender for Rookie of the Year, Morbidelli, placed 11th, setting a time of 1:30:627.
Top KTM for this morning’s Warm Up was P. Espargaro with a time of 1:30:280, placing him 7th. Smith set a time of 1:30:623 placing him 10th.
Top Aprilia was A. Espargaro setting a time of 1:30:647, he placed 12th. Redding set a time of 1:31:456 placing him 22nd.
Top Rookie was Morbidelli in 11th position with a time of 1:30:627.
The weather for today’s race at Philip Island looks to remain sunny with south/south easterly winds and highs of 18ºC.
