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A wayward seagull has failed to stop Jorge Lorenzo from smashing Casey Stoner’s lap record at Phillip Island and securing pole position for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
The bird flew into Lorenzo’s flying Yamaha early in Saturday’s final qualifying session, getting itself firmly wedged into the front of the bike.
The Spaniard was forced back to the pits for a clean up but quickly returned to clock a stellar lap of one minute, 27.899 seconds – 0.766secs quicker than the Victorian circuit’s previous record set by Stoner in 2008.
The time earned Lorenzo his 28th career pole in MotoGP and third this season.
Championship leader Marc Marquez will start alongside Lorenzo, who he leads by 43 points on the season’s standings, after qualifying second fastest with a 1:28.120secs.
They will be joined on the front-row by third-fastest qualifier Valentino Rossi, ahead of Alvaro Bautista, Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow in the second row.
Meanwhile Australia’s Bryan Staring will start 21st on the grid, while compatriot Damian Cudlin qualified 23rd fastest on his 31st birthday.
Stefan Bradl has been ruled unfit for the race after fracturing his ankle during practice for last week’s Malaysian GP at Sepang.
The race begins at 1600 (AEDT) on Sunday.
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