Jorge Lorenzo was in stunning form yesterday as he claimed his third pole position in as many races for today's Portuguese MotoGP at Estoril.
The Yamaha rider set a new lap record of one minute 35.715 seconds to push world championship leader Dani Pedrosa, of Honda, into second place in today's starting grid.
Italian Valentino Rossi, who held the previous lap record, qualified in third with Britain's James Toseland in sixth.
Defending MotoGP champion Casey Stoner could only manage ninth on his Ducati.
Qualifying result
1. J. Lorenzo, Yamaha 1:35.715
2. D. Pedrosa, Honda 1:35.948
3. V. Rossi, Yamaha 1:36.199
4. N. Hayden, Honda 1:36.266
5. C. Edwards, Yamaha 1:36.289
6. J. Toseland, Yamaha 1:36.790
7. A. Dovizioso, Honda 1:36.998
8. R. De Puniet, Honda 1:37.223
9. C. Stoner, Ducati 1:37.253
10. J. Hopkins, Kawasaki 1:37.345