Portuguese Grand Prix, Estoril
Date: 30-31 October
Sunday 17 October: 125cc & Moto - 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online; MotoGP - 1230-1400, BBC Two/online & BBC HD, MotoGP repeat, 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online & BBC HD

Stoner and Lorenzo fly off bikes in rain (UK users only)

Newly crowned MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo earned pole position for Sunday's Portuguese MotoGP after heavy rain led to qualifying being abandoned.

The starting grids in Estoril will be based on the combined practice times, meaning Ducati's Nicky Hayden joins Lorenzo on the front row.

Lorenzo said: "It is one of the easiest poles in my career as I didn't have to ride for it in qualification."

Further rain is forecast for the race on Sunday.

His Yamaha team-mate, Valentino Rossi, starts from third after finishing ahead of Casey Stoner.

Organisers were forced to cancel Saturday's scheduled qualifying for the 17th race of the season after a downpour rendered the circuit unsafe.

But Lorenzo avoided the worst of the weather to record the only time under 1' 49".

Britain's Bradley Smith will head up the grid in the 125cc class for the third time this year, with Moto2's Gabor Talmacsi claiming pole for the first time this season.

MotoGP starting grid (based on combined practice times):

1 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 1min 48.522sec

2 Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 0.135sec

3 Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.361

4 Casey Stoner (AUS/Ducati) 0.539

5 Ben Spies (USA/Yamaha) 1.199

6 Marco Melandri (ITA/Honda) 1.262

7 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Honda) 1.485

8 Randy De Puniet (FRA/Honda) 1.521

9 Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 1.791

10 Marco Simoncelli (ITA/Honda) 1.978

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