The GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team enjoyed an amazing qualifying on Saturday despite strong winds and grey skies at the opening round of the 2018 FIM Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island. Reigning champion Lucas Mahias secured the first pole position of the season with a sensational performance in SP2, setting a 1:33.160 to ensure he will start Sunday's race from the front of the grid. His teammate Federico Caricasulo was also in superb form, finishing second on the timesheets with a 1:33.510, just 0.359s off the pace off Mahias, before being issued a three-place grid penalty for riding slowly in a sector which will see him line up in fifth on the grid for the race on Sunday.