The rise of KTM in MotoGP no longer seems to know the slightest pause. You would even think that it is accelerating. At the end of a more than encouraging Japanese Grand Prix, Mattighofen's troops are continuing with conviction their overseas tour in Australia. And for good reason: throughout this Friday, both during FP1 and at the end of FP2, the factory driver Pol Espargaro asserted himself in the top 10 qualifying for Q.2. Seventh in the morning, the brother of the man who is also the leader on the Aprilia then ranked tenth. Great work.
It will be recalled that the RC16 is in its first season in MotoGP. “ Sometimes we seem to forget where we started from » laughs the teammate Bradley Smith fourteenth. “ But it's really good. I am happy. Everything is going in the right direction. We can appreciate how far we've come since our tests here in February. Our progress is evident. And I'm in good shape. Everything is there for a good result ».
« Now we'll see what the weather will decide. If it rains, we are in Q.2. Otherwise, we will go back into battle. We have the potential to play for the top 10. We can be proud of that and we have done what we need to do to be competitive. There are still details to be resolved, including the fluidity of my driving. ».
« As for the tire choice here, I think it's still a little early to have an idea. The route will be loaded with rubber and that can change things. For the moment, software seems to be the solution. But the race is only Sunday. There is still FP3 to play and then work on during FP4. We still have time to figure it out. ».
#AustralianGP MotoGP J.1: Chronos
| 1 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1'29.225 | ||
| 2 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 1'29.230 | 0.005 | 0.005 |
| 3 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 1'29.322 | 0.097 | 0.092 |
| 4 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | 1'29.329 | 0.104 | 0.007 |
| 5 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'29.423 | 0.198 | 0.094 |
| 6 | 43 | Jack Miller | Honda | 1'29.466 | 0.241 | 0.043 |
| 7 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | 1'29.604 | 0.379 | 0.138 |
| 8 | 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | 1'29.667 | 0.442 | 0.063 |
| 9 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | 1'29.702 | 0.477 | 0.035 |
| 10 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 1'29.760 | 0.535 | 0.058 |
| 11 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | 1'29.820 | 0.595 | 0.060 |
| 12 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'29.977 | 0.752 | 0.157 |
| 13 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 1'29.987 | 0.762 | 0.010 |
| 14 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | 1'30.046 | 0.821 | 0.059 |
| 15 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 1'30.085 | 0.860 | 0.039 |
| 16 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Ducati | 1'30.140 | 0.915 | 0.055 |
| 17 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 1'30.269 | 1.044 | 0.129 |
| 18 | 76 | Loris BAZ | Ducati | 1'30.274 | 1.049 | 0.005 |
| 19 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Honda | 1'30.546 | 1.321 | 0.272 |
| 20 | 22 | Sam LOWES | Aprilia | 1'30.682 | 1.457 | 0.136 |
| 21 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | Ducati | 1'30.777 | 1.552 | 0.095 |
| 22 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 1'31.688 | 2.463 | 0.911 |
| 23 | 23 | Broc PARKES | Yamaha | 1'32.152 | 2.927 | 0.464 |
