Queenslander Jack Miller (Pramac Racing Ducati) will fight for pole position at the Australian MotoGP after finishing free practice in seventh position.
The third practice run took place in cold and windy conditions at Phillip Island on Saturday, with most riders struggling to improve their times from Friday’s two sessions.
Only the top-10 riders automatically go through to Saturday afternoon’s second qualifying session.
The remainder compete in the first qualifying run where top two advance to second qualifying where the top 12 grid positions for Sunday’s 27-lap race will be decided.
Popular Brit Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was fifth before he crashed out on Friday, suffering a broken ankle that will require surgery.
The drama continued on Saturday when Hafizh Syahrin took a nasty high-speed tumble on his Monster Yamaha at turn one.
The Malaysian was taken from the circuit on a stretcher but was later cleared to take part in second qualifying having claimed 10th spot.
Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) topped the combined standings, with new world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) sixth and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) ninth.
Alex Rins finished eighth overall but parked his Team Suzuki Ecstar bike out on the circuit with a technical issue as the session ended.
He had started the long walk back to the pits when Miller stopped and offered him a lift on his Ducati, much to the delight of the crowd.
Queenslander Mike Jones, an injury replacement rider on an Angel Nieto Team Ducati, moved up one spot from last to 23rd.