Estoril : Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Three riders crossed the line together with 13 year old Japanese Daijiro Hiura getting the verdict over JD Beach and Sturla Fagerhaug.

It was the two more experienced 16 year olds, American Beach and Norwegian Fagerhaug, who had done most of the battling for the lead but on the last lap Hiura dived past on the brakes ... [ more ]

“I am 100% optimistic for a good result”
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racer Loris Capirossi is positive he can deliver a good result from tomorrow's Portuguese Grand Prix despite qualifying on the fourth row after a big crash at Estoril yesterday.

Capirossi (P12, 1'37.786, 22 laps) was on his first qualifying tyre when he made a mistake going into a fast right-hand ... [ more ]

“For sure, it's going to be tough”
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) once again proved his mettle with a second consecutive front row start here at Estoril. His rival Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo took pole while Valentino Rossi (both Yamaha) qualified third to complete the front row.

The early stage pace-setter was Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda RC212V) who launched ... [ more ]

Melandri also struggles
Casey Stoner was today forced to rely heavily on the talent and class that made him a World Champion in order to secure a third row start for the Grand Prix of Portugal following a particularly difficult qualifying practice.

It is an unusual situation for Casey and the team, who are used to finding a set-up quickly and taking full ... [ more ]

“I can't believe I'm here again !”
Fiat Yamaha Team rider Jorge Lorenzo made it an incredible three poles from three MotoGP starts with another masterful qualifying display in Portugal this afternoon.

Estoril was one of only two circuits on the calendar at which the outstanding rookie had never before claimed a pole position, but he put that behind him ... [ more ]

In Portugal
Valentino Rossi made a welcome return to the front row of the grid for the first time this year in Portugal this afternoon, qualifying third aboard his Fiat Yamaha M1.

It was the first time the 29-year-old has qualified on the front row since making the switch to Bridgestone tyres and it puts him in a good position from which to attempt a ... [ more ]

In Estoril
Tech 3 Yamaha duo Colin Edwards and James Toseland will start next to each other on the second row of the grid for tomorrow's 28-lap Portuguese MotoGP race in Estoril.

American Edwards missed out on preserving his 100 per cent front row starting record in 2008 by just 0.090s as he finished a qualifying session dominated by Yamaha and Michelin ... [ more ]

“We've given ourselves quite a bit of work to do”
Qualifying practice for the third race of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship took place this afternoon at Estoril, in readiness for the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday, and both Kawasaki Racing Team riders slashed their previous fastest times on race tyres.

Later, on qualifiers, John Hopkins managed 10th ... [ more ]

At Portuguese Grand Prix
The second day of practice for the Portuguese Grand Prix was held today in good conditions, which once more allowed the JiR team to make yet more progress – especially in the race configuration of their Honda RC212V.

This progress was shown by the excellent pace and awesome qualifying for Andrea Dovizioso as he put his machine ... [ more ]

Estoril : 250cc grid
After coming so close to his maiden 250cc win two weeks ago, Marco Simoncelli now has another shot at a first victory in the class from pole position in Portugal, beating Andrea Dovizioso´s pole position record from 2007.

The Metis Gilera rider´s first pole position in the class confirmed his provisional top spot from Friday afternoon, ... [ more ]

Estoril : 125cc grid
World Championship leader Simone Corsi will start Sunday´s bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal from pole position, upping the pace set on Friday afternoon.

The Jack&Jones WRB rider is looking for his first back-to-back victories in the lower cylinder class, and a 1´53.367 lap of the Estoril circuit gave him the best opportunity to ... [ more ]

With James Toseland and Yamaha
The Tech 3 team and British rider James Toseland will continue to race together until the end of the 2009 MotoGP world championship.

Tech 3 and Toseland have already agreed to exercise an option for the 2009 season after the 27-year-old made an instant impact in MotoGP. Toseland has scored top six finishes in his first two ... [ more ]

Estoril : Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Japanese 13 year old Daijiro Hiura seized pole position for Saturday's Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race at Estoril only to crash on the final lap as he touched a piece of wet track remaining for the morning rain.

Second fastest was Norway's Sturla Fagerhaug ahead of American JD Beach and Briton Adam Blacklock.

It ... [ more ]