MotoGP starting grid as Fabio Quartararo steals Australian Grand Prix pole from Marco Bezzecchi

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Fabio Quartararo stole pole position from Marco Bezzecchi with a stunning late lap in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Jack Miller was third to make it two Yamaha bikes on the front row.

Bezzecchi was the strong favourite heading into the session, but opportunity knocks for Quartararo on Sunday in particular, with the Aprilia rider facing a double long-lap penalty for his Indonesia tangle with Marc Marquez.

Miller beat Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez to the final spot on the front row. Pedro Acosta was fifth for KTM, with Alex Marquez sixth after two crashes, the second particularly heavy.

Marquez Jr was the lead Ducati as the brand’s streak of nearly 100 races with a motorcycle on the front row came to an end. Teammate Fermin Aldeguer was just behind.

Tech3’s Pol Espargaro (P8) impressed as he filled in for Maverick Vinales, with Luca Marini ninth and Fabio Di Giannantonio 10th. Francesco Bagnaia disappointed again in P11 and Alex Rins was the slowest rider in Q2.

Full Australian Grand Prix qualifying results with Fabio Quartararo on pole

Brad Binder was the closest to making Q2, though he could be demoted from 13th after an impending incident with Johann Zarco. Honda’s Joan Mir separated him from the furious Frenchman.

Miguel Oliveira was 16th for Pramac ahead of Franco Morbidelli, the lowest-ranking full-time Ducati rider, and Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura.

Lorenzo Savadori, deputising for an injured Jorge Martin at Aprilia, starts 19th after a bizarre collision with Binder on an outlap, which will be investigated by the FIM stewards.

Savadori outpaced Enea Bastianini, who had a miserable day for Tech3, and LCR’s Somkiat Chantra. Marc Marquez’s replacement, Michele Pirro, was slowest on the Ducati.

The full grid for the Australian Grand Prix is below.