250cc• Héctor Barberá has qualified on pole for the fourth time this year; however he has failed to win on the three previous occasions he has started from pole in 2009.• Álvaro Bautista starts from the front row of the grid for the first time since the German GP back in July. Bautista has won for the last three years in Portugal – the 125cc race in 2006 and the 250cc race in both 2007 and 2008.• Marco Simoncelli missed the opening race of the year in Qatar, but has since started on the front row at every race. His second place last year at Estoril was his first podium finish on a 250cc machine• In fourth place on the grid is Hiroshi Aoyama, who is starting from the front row for the seventh successive race.• Raffaele de Rosa is in sixth place on the grid, equalling his best qualifying result since moving to the 250cc class – at the Japanese GP earlier this year.125cc• Julián Simón starts from pole for the sixth time this year. From his previous five poles in 2009 he has only gone on to finish on the podium twice – second place in Qatar and a win in Germany. His best previous result at Estoril is 5th, in 2006 when riding a KTM.• If Julián Simón wins the race he would win the world title if Nico Terol finishes no higher than 9th and Bradley Smith finishes no higher than 5th.• Pol Espargaró starts from second on the grid which equals his best qualifying result of the year that he achieved in Catalunya.• Bradley Smith has qualified on the front row for the seventh time in 2009. Smith has not had a top ten finish at Estoril in his three previous GP starts at the circuit.• In fourth on the grid is Marc Márquez, who starts on the front row for the first time since the British GP.• Fifth place on the grid is Stefan Bradl’s best qualifying result since he took the final slot on the front row at Assen.• Danny Webb is tenth on the grid – his best qualifying result since the Italian Grand Prix. Last year at Estoril Webb finished fifth, his best ever result in Grand Prix racing.
MotoGP Sunday race day guide
250cc• Héctor Barberá has qualified on pole for the fourth time this year; however he has failed to win on the three previous occasions he has started from pole in 2009.• Álvaro Bautista starts from the front row of the grid for the first time since the German GP back in July. Bautista has won for the last three years in Portugal – the 125cc race in 2006 and the 250cc race in both 2007 and 2008.• Marco Simoncelli missed the opening race of the year in Qatar, but has since started on the front row at every race. His second place last year at Estoril was his first podium finish on a 250cc machine• In fourth place on the grid is Hiroshi Aoyama, who is starting from the front row for the seventh successive race.• Raffaele de Rosa is in sixth place on the grid, equalling his best qualifying result since moving to the 250cc class – at the Japanese GP earlier this year.125cc• Julián Simón starts from pole for the sixth time this year. From his previous five poles in 2009 he has only gone on to finish on the podium twice – second place in Qatar and a win in Germany. His best previous result at Estoril is 5th, in 2006 when riding a KTM.• If Julián Simón wins the race he would win the world title if Nico Terol finishes no higher than 9th and Bradley Smith finishes no higher than 5th.• Pol Espargaró starts from second on the grid which equals his best qualifying result of the year that he achieved in Catalunya.• Bradley Smith has qualified on the front row for the seventh time in 2009. Smith has not had a top ten finish at Estoril in his three previous GP starts at the circuit.• In fourth on the grid is Marc Márquez, who starts on the front row for the first time since the British GP.• Fifth place on the grid is Stefan Bradl’s best qualifying result since he took the final slot on the front row at Assen.• Danny Webb is tenth on the grid – his best qualifying result since the Italian Grand Prix. Last year at Estoril Webb finished fifth, his best ever result in Grand Prix racing.
