Moto3: Martin takes pole number eight in rain-struck qualifying

Mr Pole Position Jorge Martin will start tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix from the front of the grid for the eighth time in this 2017 Moto3 championship, after timing his fast lap to absolute perfection as rain fell on the Phillip Island circuit during this afternoon’s qualifying session.

The rain came in the final minutes of the day’s session, meaning that Martin’s fastest lap from the previous run around was enough to hand him the top spot, ending the day 0.2 ahead of Gabriel Rodrigo and championship leader Joan Mir.

Mir was another winner from the session by getting in a front row lap early on – and leaving the only man who can stop him from winning the championship, Romano Fenati – back in fifth, behind Juanfran Guevara and ahead of an impressive lap from his teammate Jules Danilo.

However, the rain scuppered the plans of British Talent Team rider John McPhee, demoted to 25^th place after losing his chance for a fast lap thanks to the rain.