Despite missing out on the win last time out in Malaysia, Repsol Honda Team rookie Marc Marquez has a mathematical chance of winning the World Championship at this weekend’s Tissot Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island if he beats Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo by sufficient points to go into the last two races with a 50-point margin. Marquez now holds a 43-point lead heading into the race, meaning that a win could get him the title should Lorenzo not finish second – which would be the first time a rookie has taken the championship in 35 years since Kenny Roberts in 1978. However this might be tricky with the form Marquez’s teammate Dani Pedrosa is in, following his dominant win in Sepang last time out. Pedrosa is not out of the title chase yet, but knows that only wins will suffice to keep his chances alive. Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi will hope that the notoriously colder conditions at the track will suit their M1s better, with both not quite competitive enough in Sepang. Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Cal Crutchlow will aim to take the fight to the front-runners once more, as a set-up error in Sepang left him with too much power in the early stages, spinning the rear tyre up too much in the bends and loosing traction. GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista, who beat Crutchlow last time out, will aim for a repeat or better, whilst many will be awaiting whether LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl will be declared fit after fracturing his right ankle on the Saturday in Sepang. Tech3’s Bradley Smith had one of his best races to date in Malaysia, and will be aiming to take that rhythm to Australia, whilst the Ducati Team of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden will look to close the gap to the Japanese manufacturers. Yonny Hernandez will continue to substitute for Ben Spies on the Ignite Pramac Ducati, with Damian Cudlin also maintaining the spot in the PBM team. Luca Scassa remains the replacement for the inured Karel Abraham. All three will be once again looking to get past Power Electronics Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro, who remains the dominant force in the CRT category. Moto2 The Moto2™ class looks set to provide a thriller of a race as the grid heads to the second of the triple-header in Phillip Island for the Tissot Australian Grand Prix with the front-runners separated by only nine points. Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding had a race to forget last time out in Sepang, with his lead cut significantly by Tuenti HP 40’s Pol Espargaro, who now lies a strong second with 75 points still to collect. The race however, does not appear to be between only two any more, as Espargaro’s teammate Esteve Rabat lies only 28 points off Redding, and took a dominant win in Sepang. The entire field looks strong, with the likes of Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Racing’s Tom Luthi, Came IodaRacing Project’s Johann Zarco, and Technomag carXpert’s Dominique Aegerter putting in great showings in Malaysia. However, there will be many eyes peeled on whether local talent Anthony West on his QMMF Racing Team machine will be able to repeat his podium from last year. Alex Mariñelarena continues to substitute for Dani Rivas in the Blusens Avintia team, whilst Mike di Meglio’s replacement in the JiR Moto2 team will be Japanese rider Kohta Nozane. Moto3 Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Luis Salom is the man to catch once again as the Moto3™ contingent heads south to contest the Tissot Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, with the Mallorcan having extended his lead at the top of the championship with a hard-fought win last time out in Malaysia. He now holds a 14-point lead from nearest rival, Estrella Galicia 0,0’s Alex Rins, whom he narrowly beat in Sepang. Yet Rins is right on his heels and looking to claw back points to improve his championship aspirations. One rider looking for an increase in performance is Team Calvo’s Maverick Viñales, who struggled somewhat in the Malaysian heat, despite not being far off the leading pace. Caretta Technology – RTG’s Jack Miller and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Arthur Sissis will be doing their upmost to impress their home crowd, with Sissis getting a podium at the circuit last year. However this year it is Miller who is the rider on form, and will no doubt be aiming to stop the Spanish dominance. They will be joined by two local wildcards in the form of Lachlan Kevney with the Bullet Racing team, as well as Callum Barker from Barker – McVey Racing.