Lorenzo on top at Estoril
Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo produced a late charge to take his first pole position of the season at Estoril.
Last Updated: 30/04/11 4:52pm
Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo produced a late charge to take his first pole position of the season at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
The Yamaha rider set a fastest time of 1 minute 37.161 seconds around the Estoril circuit to beat Marco Simoncelli to top spot.
Simoncelli, who had dominated Friday practice and was fastest for much of the qualifying session, had his hopes of securing pole ended by a late crash.
Lorenzo had toppled the Italian from the top of the timesheets as the session headed into the closing stages and then bettered his own mark with just two minutes left.
The front row was completed by Dani Pedrosa, who qualified one place ahead of Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner.
Ben Spies will start from fifth on the grid ahead of Andrea Dovizioso on the third Repsol Honda.
British rider Cal Crutchlow, riding for the first time after having surgery to try and prevent swelling to his arm, was eighth behind Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards.
Valentino Rossi's disappointing start to the season continued as he could only manage ninth position on his Ducati.
