MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will start from pole at Phillip Island after a sensational qualifying effort for the Australian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard was challenged by the elements and the field during a tricky qualifying session on Saturday but emerged on top.

The prospect of rain forced riders to post strong times early during qualifying and Marquez obliged with a sharp 1:28.850 time to lead the field.

As the threat from grey clouds subsided and teams switched to faster tyres for the final minutes of qualifying, he went quicker still with a lap of 1:28.408 to take pole.

Ducati rider Cal Crutchlow surprised to take second, with Jorge Lorenzo in third.

A win for Marquez in Sunday’s race would equal Australian great Mick Doohan’s record of 12 wins during a single MotoGP season.

The Honda rider said to achieve the feat at Doohan’s home track would be fitting and humbling.

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

“I will try to take the risk to win the race.

“The records are always important, especially when people compare you with legends.”

In claiming his 12th pole for the season, Marquez matched another record for most pole positions in a year.

The Honda rider looks unbeatable heading into the Australian GP, with most attention on who will finish best of the rest.

In a three-way battle to finish second in the championship between Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi, it was Pedrosa who overcame the most adversity.

After finishing 11th in practice, forced into an extra qualifying session for slower riders, Pedrosa emerged to sit on top of the timesheets at one stage.

Pedrosa used the enforced extra practice to good use and will start fifth, while Rossi will begin from seventh.

Lorenzo said he was happy with the front-row start, looking to repeat his 2013 Australian GP triumph and also make it three race wins in a row this season.

“This normally is a track of Ducati,” he said.

“My target was to push the limit to make the best lap I could; third place is good for tomorrow.”

Australia’s sole MotoGP rider Broc Parkes will start 23rd of 24 riders.