Portuguese MotoGP, Estoril
Date:Sunday 4 October: 250cc race: 1105-1205, BBC Red Button/online Race live: 1230-1400, BBC One/online, MotoGP Extra 1400-1430, Red Button/online, 125cc race: 1430-1530 BBC Red Button/online

Lorenzo was in blistering form in Portugal

Jorge Lorenzo took pole position for the Portugal MotoGP, while Casey Stoner put in a stunning ride on his comeback from illness to qualify third fastest.

Australian Stoner has missed the last three races, spending the last two months back home undergoing tests after complaining of exhaustion.

Stoner, who has been unable to train for five months, drew on all of his resources to line up on the front row.

Championship leader Valentino Rossi of Italy qualified second fastest.

It was an incredible performance from Stoner, who was pipped for second place by Rossi right at the end of the session.

I have had my critics and I am very pleased to have come back in the way I have Casey Stoner

And the 23-year-old Australian was delighted to be back racing for Ducati - for the first time since the British MotoGP in July.

He told BBC Sport: "I did one half-decent lap which got me on the front row. We felt we could have done a little better.

"But there were no expectations, I just wanted to come back and see where we are. The championship is gone, so we just want to see if we can still finish in the top three and prepare for next year.

Stoner showed guts, determination and skill on his comeback

"It was hard on my neck and back from the G-force of braking. Even when I was still racing, I wasn't training. People told me not to train and then to take time off to get myself well again.

"A lot of people had said I was never going to come back and be fast. I have had my critics and I am very pleased to have come back in the way I have - it was the right decision to take the time off.

"Five months of not training has meant my muscles are sore now. I think after the first five laps of the race on Sunday, I'll probably be destroyed."

Spain's Lorenzo, who trails his Yamaha team-mate Rossi by 30 points in the championship standings, was quickest by just over two-tenths of a second.

The 22-year-old Spaniard won last year's race and must do so again this year and hope Rossi has a disaster if he is to have any chance of the title.

"I was worried with the soft tyre - but on this track I was fast," said Lorenzo. "Every top rider is going very fast and the level is so high. To win to we have to push at the limit."

Rossi, meanwhile, seemed less than satisfied with the performance of his bike.

"I need some more traction for the slow corners - I am a little bit in trouble there and I am losing time," said the 30-year-old defending champion.

"I will change the settings for Sunday and try to make them better. The race is going to be a long one, so we will see what happens."

Qualifying result for the Portuguese MotoGP:

1. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 1min 36.214secs
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 1:36.474
3. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 1:36.528
4. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 1:36.702
5. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 1:37.142
6. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 1:37.448
7. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Suzuki 1:37.489
8. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 1:37.541
9. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati 1:37.654
10. Mika Kallio (Finland) Ducati 1:37.813

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