Ce Australian Grand Prix was expected as a new stage of a duel already promised for 2019 between the Honda of Marc Marquez and the Ducati of Dovizioso, with Yamaha as adjustment variables. But what was not really expected was the great form ofAndrea Iannone on a comfortable Suzuki at Phillip Island. Joe the Maniac's times have not left anyone indifferent since the start of the Australian meeting and his pace displayed during FP4 even worried the competition. But no one can really say if the Italian will be able to display such superb performance in the race…
However, we have our eye on it. Marc Marquez expects to have it in his hands. Iannone was a little disappointed with his qualifications, but they still ended with a fourth fastest time. However, the teammatealex rins warns: “ I start from the second row, from fourth place. A performance achieved with soft tires while I did the same time during FP4 with hard tires which had 18 laps. So these qualifications were not good ».
« But we can't manage the weather. It started to rain and we immediately returned to the pits, because the track was a little wet in turns 3, 4 and 5. Then when I attacked, I found Rins and Marquez slowing down which Wasted my time. I went back to change tires, but when I rejoined the track, the rain was heavier. My ideal time was a tenth less than the pole achieved by Marquez. This Saturday, you had to be in the right moment and be lucky ».
He insists : " I am disappointed because we did not make the most of our potential. In the race, you will have to manage the rear tire well to be strong in the last laps. We will be in the mix, but so will Marquez, and he knows how to make the difference here. I will try to keep my tires performing well for the last five laps. There will be Vinales too and Rossi like Ducati. Rins won't be far away because he's always there when he can follow someone ».
One last remark which is not really a compliment, but which echoes a comment the Spaniard made to him indicating that he often fell during races...
Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island, MotoGP, J.2: times.
| 1 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 1'29.199 | ||
| 2 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'29.509 | 0.310 | 0.310 |
| 3 | 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | 1'29.705 | 0.506 | 0.196 |
| 4 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | 1'29.712 | 0.513 | 0.007 |
| 5 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 1'30.026 | 0.827 | 0.314 |
| 6 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | 1'30.140 | 0.941 | 0.114 |
| 7 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'30.270 | 1.071 | 0.130 |
| 8 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 1'30.328 | 1.129 | 0.058 |
| 9 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 1'30.519 | 1.320 | 0.191 |
| 10 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | Yamaha | 1'30.593 | 1.394 | 0.074 |
| 11 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 1'30.640 | 1.441 | 0.047 |
| 12 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 1'32.367 | 3.168 | 1.727 |
| Q1 Results: | ||||||
| Q2 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 1'29.851 | ||
| Q2 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 1'30.105 | 0.254 | 0.254 |
| 13 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 1'30.174 | 0.323 | 0.069 |
| 14 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 1'30.452 | 0.601 | 0.278 |
| 15 | 21 | Frank MORBIDELLI | Honda | 1'30.518 | 0.667 | 0.066 |
| 16 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | 1'30.646 | 0.795 | 0.128 |
| 17 | 10 | Xavier SIMEON | Ducati | 1'30.679 | 0.828 | 0.033 |
| 18 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | 1'30.770 | 0.919 | 0.091 |
| 19 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1'30.911 | 1.060 | 0.141 |
| 20 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | Honda | 1'30.958 | 1.107 | 0.047 |
| 21 | 81 | Jordi TORRES | Ducati | 1'31.141 | 1.290 | 0.183 |
| 22 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Aprilia | 1'31.309 | 1.458 | 0.168 |
| 23 | 7 | Mike JONES | Ducati | 1'32.639 | 2.788 | 1.330 |
