MotoGP
Capirossi leads damp final session
Loris Capirossi set a surprise fastest time in a damp final practice session at Estoril.
[U]<font face='Courier New'><font color='red'>Estoril GP MotoGP Practice Session 3</font></font>[/U]
<font color='darkred'>Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap</font>
1. Loris Capirossi Pramac Ducati 1m44.515s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m45.079s + 0.564s
3. Nicky Hayden Ducati 1m45.955s + 1.440s
4. Valentino Rossi Ducati 1m46.481s + 1.966s
5. Casey Stoner Honda 1m47.676s + 3.161s
6. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1m47.849s + 3.334s
7. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m48.102s + 3.587s
8. Toni Elias LCR Honda 1m48.140s + 3.625s
9. Marco Simoncelli Gresini Honda 1m49.117s + 4.602s
10. Randy de Puniet Pramac Ducati 1m50.896s + 6.381s
11. Karel Abraham Cardion Ducati 1m51.497s + 6.982s
12. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1m51.611s + 7.096s
13. Ben Spies Yamaha 1m52.111s + 7.596s
14. Hector Barbera Aspar Ducati 1m52.704s + 8.189s
15. Hiroshi Aoyama Gresini Honda 1m53.670s + 9.155s
16. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 1m53.872s + 9.357s
17. Alvaro Bautista Suzuki
Lorenzo takes first pole of 2011
World champion Jorge Lorenzo took his first pole position of the 2011 MotoGP season in qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix, as Marco Simoncelli's bid for the top spot ended in a crash.
[U]<font face='Courier New'><font color='navy'>Estoril GP MotoGP Qualifying Session </font></font>[/U]
<font color='darkred'>Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap</font>
1. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m37.161s
2. Marco Simoncelli Gresini Honda 1m37.294s + 0.133s
3. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m37.324s + 0.163s
4. Casey Stoner Honda 1m37.384s + 0.223s
5. Ben Spies Yamaha 1m37.866s + 0.705s
6. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1m38.073s + 0.912s
7. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1m38.080s + 0.919s
8. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 1m38.189s + 1.028s
9. Valentino Rossi Ducati 1m38.271s + 1.110s
10. Hector Barbera Aspar Ducati 1m38.363s + 1.202s
11. Hiroshi Aoyama Gresini Honda 1m38.497s + 1.336s
12. Karel Abraham Cardion Ducati 1m38.786s + 1.625s
13. Nicky Hayden Ducati 1m38.922s + 1.761s
14. Loris Capirossi Pramac Ducati 1m38.934s + 1.773s
15. Alvaro Bautista Suzuki 1m39.172s + 2.011s
16. Randy de Puniet Pramac Ducati 1m39.378s + 2.217s
17. Toni Elias LCR Honda 1m39.894s + 2.733s
Simoncelli still confident he can win
Marco Simoncelli still feels a maiden MotoGP victory in the Portuguese Grand Prix is a realistic goal despite missing out on pole due to a crash at the end of qualifying.
Pedrosa: Fitness promising so far
Dani Pedrosa said his fitness was better than he expected after securing third on the Portuguese Grand Prix grid, making him the fastest of the three factory Honda riders in qualifying.
Lorenzo and Simoncelli in public row
Jorge Lorenzo vehemently criticised Marco Simoncelli in the post-qualifying press conference at Estoril this afternoon as the pair's dispute over riding ethics escalated.
'Upset' Rossi rues front-end issues
Valentino Rossi admitted that his ninth place on the Portuguese Grand Prix grid was significantly below his and Ducati's expectations, as he blamed a front-end handling issue for the poor result.
Crutchlow delighted with form so far
MotoGP rookie Cal Crutchlow was thrilled to qualify eighth on his first visit to Estoril, and to be between his Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards and series legend Valentino Rossi on the grid.
'This is our moment' declares Gresini
Marco Simoncelli's team boss Fausto Gresini says his rider is ready to play a big part in this year's MotoGP championship after coming close to pole position at Estoril today.
Stoner expects stronger race
Casey Stoner admitted that he had a poor qualifying session after his run of poles ended with a fourth place on the Estoril grid, but is optimistic that his Honda will be more competitive in tomorrow's Portuguese Grand Prix.
Jorge Lorenzo
Marco Simoncelli
Dani Pedrosa
Casey Stoner
Ben Spies
Valentino Rossi
Nicky Hayden
Alvaro Bautista
Randy de Puniet
Toni Elias
Karel Abraham
Hiroshi Aoyama
Cal Crutchlow
Colin Edwards
Hector Barbera
Loris Capirossi
Andrea Dovizioso