Lorenzo on pole as Estoril hit by rain

Newly-crowned MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) claimed pole position for today’s Portuguese Grand Prix after a deluge played havoc with qualifying at the Estoril circuit yesterday.

The downpour rendered the circuit unsafe and forced organisers to cancel the scheduled qualifying for this 17th and penultimate race of the 2010 season.

Lorenzo’s pole was based on his times from the free practice sessions that survived the wet weather on Friday and early yesterday.

Joining Lorenzo on the front row were Ducati’s American rider Nicky Hayden and Italian Valen-tino Rossi.

On the second row are Hayden’s Australian team-mate Casey Stoner, Ben Spies (USA), and Italian Marco Melandri – all three having come in over one second behind Lorenzo.

The 23-year-old Lorenzo is aiming for his third straight win in Estoril after claiming his first world MotoGP title earlier this month in Malaysia.