That Jorge Lorenzo is a force of nature at Estoril is a pretty well known fact and the Yamaha rider wearing his astronaut’s helmet grabbed his fourth consecutive pole position on a unexpectedly dry Portuguese track and his first of the 2011 season.
However it wasn’t that simple for Lorenzo, because Marco Simoncelli riding his Gresini Honda more like a superbike than a prototype, lead the field for almost the entire session and seemed to be on his way to take his first MotoGP pole position of his career, until an untimely lowside crash, with just four minutes left in the session, took away the opportunity.
Super Sic’s best time which was just 0.
133s adrift from the top spot, that will let him take off in second on tomorrow’s starting grid.
Being next to Simoncelli won’t exactly make Lorenzo jump with joy after having complained in his post-Friday practice press conference that the bushy afro- haired Italian is a dangerous rider.
The first row will be completed by Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa who a mere 0.
030s from Simoncelli and 0.
163s from his Spanish compatriot.
Casey Stoner was fourth and and gave fans a couple of chill thrills when he aggressively overtook Nicky Hayden and later on rookie Karel Abraham hunting down his best lap times.
Ben Spies turned around his weekend by taking fifth as did Andrea Dovizioso who was sixth.
The Yamaha Tech 3 duo Colin Edwards and Cal Crutchlow were seventh and eighth respectively, with the Brit fighting to stay on his M1 several times.
Valentino Rossi dropped the ball again during qualifying, taking only the 9th spot and big step backwards from Friday’s sessions, it’s going to be another uphill race for the Italian.
Hector Barbera rounded out the top ten.
The back of the field saw Alvaro Bautista back after breaking his femur 43 days ago, finish in 15th ahead of Randy de Puniet and Toni Elias.
2011 MotoGP Estoril Qualifying:01- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 1’37.
16102- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 0.
13303- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
16304- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
22305- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.
70506- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
91207- Colin Edwards – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.
91908- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
02809- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
11010- Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
20211- Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1.
33612- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
62513- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
76114- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
77315- Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 2.
01116- Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 2.
21717- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 2.
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