POL TAKES POLE IN AUSTRIA

Pol Espargaro takes pole in Austria – Photo: LAT

Pol Espargaro has made history by taking his and KTM’s first MotoGP pole position in a dramatic and thrilling Styrian Grand Prix qualifying session.

By DAN McCARTHY

Once again, the front row is made up of three unexpected bikes featuring a KTM, a year old Honda and a Suzuki.

Aussie Jack Miller will start from fourth, but his fitness is in doubt heading into the race.

Spaniard Espargaro, after years of trying, broke through to claim his maiden MotoGP pole by a minuscule 0.022s from Takaaki Nakagami.

Despite missing out on his first pole position Nakagami will start from the front row in the premier class for the first time and has shown incredible race pace so far this weekend on his LCR Honda.

Although he was forced to miss all of Friday practice to recover from a fractured scaphoid operation, Johann Zarco set the third fastest time, 0.055s off pole.

However, the former Moto2 champion will start from pitlane as he was judged to have ridden irresponsibly and caused the frighting crash with Franco Morbidelli, which nearly wiped out Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales last weekend.

After taking his first MotoGP podium last weekend, Joan Mir has backed it up with his maiden front row start, less than a tenth slower than Espargaro in the final 15-minute session.

After a heavy crash in practice 3, Miller failed to set a lap time in the final practice session, casting a shadow over a possible injury heading into tomorrow’s race.

Nevertheless, Miller gritted his teeth and stuck his Pramac Ducati bike fourth on the grid.

Vinales was the best Yamaha in fifth, and made it five manufacturers in the top five positions as he edged out Alex Rins and Miguel Oliveira.

Three title contenders will start from the back of the top 10, last weekend’s race winner Andrea Dovizioso will start eighth ahead of the Petronas Yamaha pair, championship leader Fabio Quartararo and his teammate Morbidelli.

Danilo Petrucci squeezed into Q2 but will start from 11th ahead of Iker Lecuona.

The Czech Republic Grand Prix winner Brad Binder will start 13th ahead of Rossi who crashed out late in Q1.

The Styrian Grand Prix starts tonight will start at 10.00pm AEST and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506.

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