Lorenzo takes pole in Portugal

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo will start first on the grid for Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix after grabbing his fifth pole position of the season to keep the pressure on championship leader Valentino Rossi.

Lorenzo, who posted his first MotoGP victory at Estoril last year, capped two strong practice sessions by completing the 4.2-km course with a qualifying time of 1:36:214 seconds.

Yamaha team mate Rossi, who holds a 30-point lead over second-placed Lorenzo, clocked the second fastest time.

Australia's Casey Stoner, the 2007 champion who missed the last three rounds with a mystery illness, marked his return to MotoGP by securing a place on the front row with the third fastest lap.