Race

Stoner in third five seconds from the leaders and now eight seconds ahead of Rossi.

Not a classic race so far, but some tense battles going on down the field. Lorenzo-Pedrosa at the front, Rossi-Dovizioso for fifth, Aoyama-Crutchlow for seventh, Capirossi-Elias for 11th.

Lorenzo vehemently criticised Simoncelli in the post-qualifying press conference at Estoril as the pair's dispute over riding ethics escalated. I remember this question hanging around when James Toseland was in the premier class.

Excellent defending from Lorenzo but Pedrosa has to think about his shoulder. Is it worth a pass with 20 points and that injury at stake?

No change in the fight between the leaders. At what point will Pedrosa make a move on Jorge?

Rossi keeping abreast of his close rival as they lean this way and that through the chicane.

Lorenzo has won from pole at Estoril for the last three years.

Dovizioso in fifth is close behind Vale - we could have some battle in the final half of this race.

The Spies crash has moved De Puniet up to 10th on the Maisons Laffitte Ducati. All the riders in the points.

Pedrosa sets the fastest lap of 1:37.844 and is now 0.085s behind Lorenzo. On the pitboard that is shown as +0.

And Spies is off! He won't come back as the front brake lever is finished. Appalling day for him.

Spies, still 10th, has run wide and rejoined. Not having a happy time of it, the 2009 World Superbike champion.

Stoner all alone in third, but closer to the front two than Rossi is to him - the Italian legend is 4.6s back.

Aoyama past Hayden as there is contact between Spies and Hayden!

There is what? Ten, 15 yards between Lorenzo and Pedrosa? Travelling at such speeds, that would scare the daylights out of anyone except a MotoGP rider.

The order: 1.Lorenzo 2.Pedrosa 3.Stoner 4.Rossi 5. Dovizioso 6.Edwards 7.Crutchlow 8.Hayden 9.Aoyama 10.Spies 11.De Puniet 12.Capirossi 13.Elias 14.Bautista

The gap between the front two now 0.1s, with Stoner another 2.5s back.

Cal is seventh after passing former champion Hayden.

The pace quickening as the tyres reach optimal temperature, Pedrosa's last one 1:38.037 - two-hundredths quicker than that of Lorenzo.

Spies is one of the riders who has dropped back, sitting 10th now on the second factory Yamaha.

A little later you can watch the race back using our Eurosport Player. And catch the 125s LIVE while you're at it.

Edwards is up two places to sixth while fellow American Hayden is now seventh. Brit Crutchlow also gaining places in eighth, where he started the race.

The No.26 bike of Pedrosa hard on Lorenzo's No.1 Yamaha. The pace is blistering. The former Spaniard sets the fastest lap of the race of 1:38.274.

Lorenzo and Pedrosa pulling a couple of seconds clear at the front. The sun is well and truly out. Stoner 1.5s ahead of Rossi.

Karel Abraham is also out and is holding his hand as he walks away... Alvaro Bautista has also been off but rejoined.

After one lap the top 10 is: 1.Lorenzo 2.Pedrosa 3.Stoner 4.Rossi 5.Dovizioso 6.Spies 7.Capirossi 8.Edwards 9.Hayden 10.Crutchlow

Hector Barbera wipes out in the first corners and Simoncelli is also out!!!

Lorenzo holds the lead while Pedrosa comes past Simoncelli for second...

They have finished their warm-up lap and are lined up on the grid.

It's not been a wonderful start to the season for 2008 250cc champion Marco Simoncelli despite his incredible hair. However a second spot on the grid for San Carlo Honda Gresini shows his ability in this second MotoGP season.

Just five minutes from the race start. Lorenzo leads the championship from Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner, with Valentino Rossi fifth behind Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden.

Briton Cal Crutchlow, Edwards's Tech 3 team-mate: "It's gone not too bad. We had pace in qualifying and practice and this morning in the warm-up. It could be a lottery for the race, but I'm looking forward to it... It won't rain. It'll be dry. But it's been wet this morning so the track is not in the best condition."

"I don't know what they're moaning about - they should get on and race motorbikes," is Colin Edwards's verdict on the squabbling between some of the sport's biggest riders. The American nonchalant as he leans on his handlebars.

Here is the grid for the race - there are blue skies but also plenty of clouds of all colours.

Motorcycling's governing body, the FIM, has announced that 16 new teams have applied to join the MotoGP field when the series launches its 1000cc rules package from 2012.

Stefan Bradl took his second Moto2 win of the season earlier after his title rival Andrea Iannone's gallant charge from 17th to first ended in a crash just a lap after he had finally taken the lead.

World champion Jorge Lorenzo took his first pole position of the season in qualifying, as Marco Simoncelli's bid for the top spot ended in a crash.

Welcome to coverage of the Portuguese MotoGP from Estoril.