Lorenzo steals Portugal pole

Added on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

MotoGP title aspirant Jorge Lorenzo strengthened his championship chances this afternoon but grasping pole position, ahead of tomorrow’s Grande Premio de Portugal race.

Heading into this round 30 points adrift of his teammate and main rival, Valentino Rossi, Lorenzo is keen to make an impression if he is to secure the 2009 championship honours.

Last year’s winner, Lorenzo, succeeded with pole on the 27th of his 29 qualifying laps, allowing him to steal top spot as the session was coming to a close. Having not won a race from pole position yet he is eager to show what he can do from the position.

Alongside him on the grid tomorrow he will see teammate Rossi, equally as keen to show his younger teammate the way around Estoril. Casey Stoner, making a very welcome return to the series after a three race break due to illness, lines up third on the grid, back and ready for action. Stoner’s best time was just 0.054s slower than that of Rossi’s, with the Australian indicating he is definitely recovering well.

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa secured himself fourth ahead of tomorrow’s excitement, and having enjoyed time towards the front of the field in all sessions so far this weekend, he is looking to succeed one again at the Portuguese venue.

Colin Edwards put in the fifth quickest time, with Randy De Puniet close behind in sixth. The remainder of the top saw the likes of Loris Capirossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Nicky Hayden and Mika Kallio star, whilst Briton James Toseland, on the back on his World Superbike return announcement, managed the twelfth quickest time of the session.

Grande Premio de Portugal, Qualifying Result:

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Motorcycle	Gap
1	Jorge LORENZO	SPA	Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha
2	Valentino ROSSI	ITA	Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha	0.260
3	Casey STONER	AUS	Ducati Marlboro Team	Ducati	0.314
4	Dani PEDROSA	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	0.488
5	Colin EDWARDS	USA	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha	0.928
6	Randy DE PUNIET	FRA	LCR Honda MotoGP	Honda	1.234
7	Loris CAPIROSSI	ITA	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	Suzuki	1.275
8	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	ITA	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	1.327
9	Nicky HAYDEN	USA	Ducati Marlboro Team	Ducati	1.440
10	Mika KALLIO	FIN	Pramac Racing	Ducati	1.599
11	Alex DE ANGELIS	RSM	San Carlo Honda Gresini	Honda	1.608
12	James TOSELAND	GBR	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha	1.609
13	Toni ELIAS	SPA	San Carlo Honda Gresini	Honda	1.697
14	Niccolo CANEPA	ITA	Pramac Racing	Ducati	1.828
15	Chris VERMEULEN	AUS	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	Suzuki	2.128
16	Marco MELANDRI	ITA	Hayate Racing Team	Kawasaki	2.324
17	Gabor TALMACSI	HUN	Scot Racing Team MotoGP	Honda	3.106