Newly crowned MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will start the Portuguese Grand Prix from pole position after Saturday’s qualifying at Estoril was called off due to torrential rain and strong winds.
The Yamaha rider had been quickest in practice, despite crashing heavily on Saturday morning, with the combined times from the earlier sessions deciding the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
Organisers first postponed qualifying and then abandoned hope of starting after sending out the safety car to test conditions, with pools of standing water on the track. Times of India
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The starting grids in Estoril will be based on the combined practice times, meaning Ducati’s Nicky Hayden joins Lorenzo on the front row.
Lorenzo said: “It is one of the easiest poles in my career as I didn’t have to ride for it in qualification.”
Further rain is forecast for the race on Sunday.
His Yamaha team-mate, Valentino Rossi, starts from third after finishing ahead of Casey Stoner. BBC Sport
Casey Stoner (Ducati Team), Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Marco Melandri (San Carlo Honda Gresini) will comprise the second line, with the top six all taking their positions on the starting grid courtesy of their FP2 times. The returning Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) will start from 12th and Carlos Checa (Pramac Racing) from 17th in his first GP since Valencia 2007. Motogp.com
Pos. Num. Rider Team 1 99 Jorge LORENZO Fiat Yamaha Team 2 69 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Team 3 46 Valentino ROSSI Fiat Yamaha Team 4 27 Casey STONER Ducati Team 5 11 Ben SPIES Monster Yamaha Tech 3 6 33 Marco MELANDRI San Carlo Honda Gresini 7 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Repsol Honda Team 8 14 Randy DE PUNIET LCR Honda MotoGP 9 5 Colin EDWARDS Monster Yamaha Tech 3 10 58 Marco SIMONCELLI San Carlo Honda Gresini 11 41 Aleix ESPARGARO Pramac Racing Team 12 26 Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 13 65 Loris CAPIROSSI Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 14 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 15 40 Hector BARBERA Paginas Amarillas Aspar 16 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA Interwetten Honda MotoGP 17 71 Carlos CHECA Pramac Racing Team
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