Australian MotoGP: Marc Marquez one ride from greatness after claiming pole at Phillip Island

RUNAWAY world champion Marc Marquez yesterday equalled Australian legend Casey Stoner’s record of 12 MotoGP pole positions in a single season.

Marc Marquez during qualifying for the 2014 Australian MotoGP.

RUNAWAY world champion Marc Marquez yesterday equalled Australian legend Casey Stoner’s record of 12 MotoGP pole positions in a single season with an impressive drive at Phillip Island.

And a win in today’s race would see Marquez share another record with an Australian motorcycling icon, with the Spaniard a chance to draw level with Mick Doohan’s 12 MotoGP wins in one season.

The 21-year-old — who last week chalked up an unassailable lead to secure his second consecutive MotoGP — said he would take risks to try and salute today and match Doohan.

Marquez thundered around the Australian circuit in 1min 28.408 sec, fending off Cal Crutchlow and Jorge Lorenzo.

REPLAY:MotoGP qualifying as it happened

Some experts feared Marquez might not head the grid entering yesterday’s qualifying with his Honda bike outperformed in earlier sessions and fellow superstars Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo steering Yamahas.

But Marquez peaked at 346.2km/hr to continue his rapid march towards greatness.

Marc Marquez during qualifying for the 2014 Australian MotoGP.

It capped another golden day for the blossoming brothers after Alex Marquez secured pole in Moto3 to tighten his grip on this season’s Moto3 title.

“Tomorrow will be a tough race because Yamaha — especially — are strong. We are ready to fight for the victory,” Marquez said.

The Spaniard became the youngest ever world champion in 2013 and has won the world title in all three categories across the past four years.

Stoner ended his career with six-straight victories at Phillip Island and Marquez will today shoot for his first in the 27-lap race, starting at 4pm.

On the importance of records, Marquez said: “The records are always important, especially when people compare you with legends”.

“It will be nice to achieve here because it’s Australia, his country. It would be nice to do,” he told Speed TV.

Valentino Rossi plays up for the crowd after qualifying at Phillip Island.

Australia’s sole MotoGP hope Broc Parkes qualified 23rd out of 24 drivers after a high-side crash at 240km on Friday.

Crutchlow secured his maiden start on the front row and Lorenzo said he was happy to have Rossi and Dani Pedrosa facing his back on the grid.

“The tyres are harder so it’s hard to keep the same pace as last year. It’s the same for everyone,” Lorenzo, a two-time world champion, said.

“It’s good, third place. Our rivals Pedrosa and Rossi are behind so I am happy.”

While Marquez has the GP wrapped up with the Malaysia and Spanish circuits still to follow today’s final, Rossi, Pedrosa and Lorenzo remain in a fight to finish on the 2014 podium.

Lorenzo (227 points) enters today three points shy of fellow Spaniard Pedrosa and Italian Rossi.

Light rain fell before the second qualifying session, encouraging drivers to post quick times early with the track hovering about 10 degrees cooler than Friday’s practice.

Originally published as Australian MotoGP: Marc Marquez one ride from greatness after claiming pole at Phillip Island