Portuguese GP: Spanish Rider Factoids

MotoGP

■ Jorge Lorenzo took his first MotoGP victory last year at the Portuguese GP in only his third race in the elite class which took him to the top of the championship table equal on points with Pedrosa. This was Lorenzo’s first ever win at the Estoril circuit.

■ Dani Pedrosa’s second place finish in 2007 in Portugal after a race long battle with Rossi was his first podium finish in any class of Grand Prix racing at the Estoril circuit. Last year he was again the first Honda across the line in second place. Estoril is one of just four current circuits where Pedrosa has not had a win in any class of GP racing; the others are Losail,Indianapolis and Misano.

■ Toni Elias has a fantastic record at the Estoril circuit having won three times; the 250cc GP race in 2003 and 2004, and the MotoGP race in 2006 after he had qualified down in eleventh place on the grid. Things have not gone as well for the last two years, finishing 8th in 2007 after running off the track early in the race and last year he was 12th but still in front of fellow Ducati riders Melandri and Guintoli.


250cc

■ Alvaro Bautista has won for the last three years in Portugal – the 125cc race in 2006 and the 250cc race in both 2007 and 2008. In 2007 he won after finishing the first lap down in 12th place and then setting a new lap record as he stormed through the field. Last year he was lead- ing by the end of the first lap and maintained the lead throughout the race to win by more than seven seconds.

■ Hector Barbera’s fifth place finish in 2007 is his best result at Estoril since moving up to the 250cc class. Barbera won the 125cc Portuguese GP in 2004 riding an Aprilia.

■ Hector Faubel won the 125cc race at Estoril in 2007. After scoring just 7 points in the first three races of this year Faubel has now had nine successive top ten finishes.


125cc

■ Julian simon’s best result at Estoril is 5th, in 2006 when riding a KTM. Simon needs to score just 43 points from the remaining four races to secure the world title irrespective of the results of other riders.

■ Nico Terol’s third place finish last year in Portugal was his first point scoring finish at the Estoril circuit.

■ Pol Espargaro’s third place finish two years ago at Estoril was his first appearance on a Grand Prix podium.

■ Joan Olive finished second last year at Estoril – one of his four podium finishes of 2008.