MotoGP preview: Phillip Island

Lap records     
MotoGP: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 1:30.059 (177.803 km/h), 2008
Moto2:  Pol Espargaro (Kalex) 1:33.729 (170.841 km/h), 2012
Moto3:  Alessandro Tonucci (FTR Honda) 1:38.447 (162.654 km/h), 2012

MotoGP: can Mark make it?
Marquez, the Repsol Honda youngster, leads Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo by 43 points with three races left. The simplest equation is this one: if Marquez wins and Lorenzo is third or worse, then Marc is World Champion. Without delving too deep into the figures, we can also say that if Marquez is second, Lorenzo is fifth or worse and Dani Pedrosa doesn’t win the race, Marquez is champion; if Marquez is third, Lorenzo eighth or lower and Pedrosa is outside the top two, Marquez takes the title.

Marquez has won once at Phillip Island, on a Derbi on his way to the 125cc world title in 2010. Since then he has finished third in Moto2 twice running. Ahead of this crucial weekend he is making all the right noises and planning to adopt the same approach that earned him 20 points in Malaysia last weekend: “Now, without any time to rest, we head to Australia for the next race and we need to maintain the same direction and mentality as it's working for us in this moment,” he says.

“Phillip Island will be important for the Championship as there are only three races to go and every point makes a difference, but we will try to approach it as we do every race weekend, work hard from the beginning and keep our concentration."

Teammate Dani Pedrosa hasn’t tasted the winner’s champagne at Phillip Island since way back in 2005, when he took his second straight 250cc World Championship. In fact he has only once been on the MotoGP podium here and that was for third place in 2009. Pedrosa is still smarting, physically and emotionally, from the Aragon incident with Marquez and he too plans to build on his brilliant display in Sepang: “I've had two days of rest after the race and now we head to Phillip Island and will look to finish these three remaining races as strong as possible,” he says.

“The track itself is a lot of fun - the layout makes for an interesting race - and I'm also excited to test the new asphalt. I've had mixed results there in the past but I'm looking forward to step up a gear and enjoy the track!"

Curiously, Lorenzo has also failed to win in MotoGP at Phillip Island, although he took back-to-back victories on the 250cc Fortuna Aprilia in 2006-07. The reigning World Champion will not concede the title to his young compatriot until the arithmetic forces him to do so: “I have to try and win every race to the end of the season,” he insists.

“Phillip Island is a pretty track that I like a lot. Last year I achieved my second MotoGP world title there and that was a fantastic feeling. This time hopefully the weather is not so bad and we can have some fun. I would like to win as many races as possible until the end of the season at Valencia. That’s our main goal and also to fight with Dani for second place in the championship, that is if we can’t get the title; that is looking quite difficult now.”

His Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi had a strong weekend in Malaysia and is returning to a circuit where he has enjoyed great success. "I really like the Phillip Island circuit, it is great fun to ride here. The track is very different from Sepang and I think that for us it will be better. We are improving with every race and I'm curious to see what happens in Australia. I made good races here and I won a lot.” If the cards fall right and Vale wins he will have six Island victories in the premier class to match Casey Stoner.

Bryan Staring candidly admits he isn’t Casey Stoner, but the 26-year-old Australian is determined to do his bit for home fans as he races the Honda Gresini CRT bike this weekend: “Finally we go to Phillip Island, a circuit that holds special memories for me because I have won here many times. I really want a good result in my home race to put the Sepang weekend behind us. We just couldn't get comfortable with the bike in Malaysia but a strong performance at Phillip Island would be a nice way to set us up for the last couple of races of the season.”

Damian Cudlin turns 31 on qualifying day and will be looking for a little gift on Sunday – to get the PBM bike home for the first time in his third outing as a replacement for Yonny Hernandez.

Can Ant West pull a rabbit out of the hat again and claim a top finish at Phillip Island? Westy thrilled the huge crowd last year with his podium, but the signs are not that promising as the QMMF Speed Up struggles for outright pace. It will be the 32-year-old West’s 201st Grand Prix. “A track that is one of the last real rider’s tracks left in the world,” is how West sees the place where he made his debut 15 years ago. “I hope I can put a good show on for all the Australian people the way I did last year and I also hope I can reward my team with a good result for all the great work they’ve done!”

Moto3: Salom sensing glory
Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Luis Salom took a giant stride towards the Moto3 crown with his beautifully judged win in Malaysia, but his 14-point advantage needs to be carefully protected through the Australian round. A podium finish to match his effort on a 125cc Aprilia in 2011 would do nicely, thank you.

Is Jack Miller our best hope for a local hero? While Arthur Sissis was on the Moto3 podium last year he languishes four places behind Miller in the standings as they come back, and Miller comes off a stirring late-race sprint that saw his Caretta – RTG bike finish sixth in Malaysia.

Understandably Sissis has spent some time re-running the 2012 race: “Whenever I watch the race my heartbeat accelerates when I get to that last turn.

It was awesome!” says the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider who is losing that spot to Miller next year. ”We fought very hard on every lap, but when Danny Kent passed me on the last lap I thought that it was over and that Danny would take third. However, I knew that I had better braking at Turn 4 and overtook him there. Then I had to shut the door on the remaining turns, braking as late as possible. My heart was pounding.”