Aussie dominance was the story of the day as Troy Brosnan and a resurgent Mick Hannah unshackled themselves to lay down scorching times on a red hot day in Cairns. The two natives will be the last men down the hill tomorrow and will no doubt be spurred on by a ‘lubricated’ Australian crowd.

Sun blasted through the jungle canopy today and a dry track allowed the riders to blast through the undergrowth and lay down some scorching times. That didn’t stop a number of riders hitting the deck though  – Josh Bryceland, Tahnee Seagrave and Finn Iles were among the casualties.

Here are all the best photos and insider info from qualifying: