2011 Spain GP (Jerez): MotoGP Starting Grid & Race Preview

Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines

For the first time since the San Marino Grand Prix in 2009 there are no Spanish riders on pole in any class.

There are German riders on pole in two of the three classes for the first time since the Austrian GP in 1991 when Helmut Bradl was on pole in the 250cc class and Ralf Waldmann in the 125cc class.

MotoGP

The top three qualifiers in MotoGP are in the same grid positions as at the opening race of the year in Qatar.

This is Casey Stoner's first pole at Jerez in any of the GP classes. Stoner will be aiming to become the first rider to win the opening two races of the year in the premier-class since Valentino Rossi in 2001, the final year of the 500cc class.

Second fastest qualifier, Dani Pedrosa, has finished either first or second in each of his five MotoGP races at Jerez.

Jorge Lorenzo has finished in the top four at the last 21 successive MotoGP races. Lorenzo will be aiming to become the first Yamaha rider to win in the premier-class in successive years at Jerez.

Heading the second row of the grid is Ben Spies, who retired on lap eight at Jerez last year with handling issues

Marco Simoncelli twice won at Jerez during his time competing in the 125cc class - in 2004 and 2005.

Sixth place on the grid is Andrea Dovizioso's best qualifying result since he was 3rd fastest
qualifier at Sepang last year.

Randy de Puniet leads the third row of the grid and is the highest qualified Ducati rider.

Following his eighth place finish in Qatar, Colin Edwards will be aiming to open the season with back-to-back top ten finishes for the first time since 2007 when he was in the factory team.

Cal Crutchlow has qualified in ninth place on the grid on his first racing appearance at the Jerez circuit.

Hiroshi Aoyama has qualified in tenth which equals his best ever grid position in the MotoGP class.

Valentino Rossi starts from twelfth place on the grid, which is his lowest grid position since he was twelfth fastest qualifier at the Australian Grand Prix in 2008. He went on to finish second in that race.

Moto2

Stefan Bradl starts from pole for the second successive race. He will be aiming to become the first German rider to win back-to-back races in the intermediate class since Ralf Waldmann in 1996.

Yuki Takahashi is second on the grid, which equals his best ever qualifying in Moto2, which he achieved last year at the French and Catalan GPs. He went on to win the race in Barcelona.

Thomas Luthi was leading the Moto2 race at Jerez last year at the start of the final lap before eventually being pushed back to third.

Marc Marquez's third place finish in the 125cc race two years ago is the only occasion he has reached the chequered flag at Jerez.

Bradley Smith, who starts from fifth place on the grid, had his first ever GP win in the 125cc class at Jerez two years ago.

125cc

Sandro Cortese starts from pole for the third time in his Grand Prix career. He has failed to finish on each of the previous two occasions he has started from pole: at Assen in 2009 he crashed on lap 5, and at Mugello last year he crashed on lap two then re-started, but suffered another crash.

Second on the grid, Nico Terol has finished in the top three at every race since the Czech GP last year - a sequence of 10 successive podium finishes.

The final rider on the front row is Hector Faubel, who is making his 150th Grand Prix start.

Efren Vazquez, who is fourth fastest qualifier, crashed out at Jerez last year on lap nineteen when battling for a podium finish.

Johann Zarco's fifth place on the grid equals his best ever qualifying result he achieved at the British Grand Prix last year.

Luis Salom is in sixth place on the grid - his best ever qualifying result in Grand Prix racing.

Jonas Folger has failed to reach the finish in both his previous appearances at Jerez, having crashed on both occasions.

Miguel Oliveira's eighth place on the grid is the best ever qualifying result in Grand Prix racing by a Portuguese rider