Lorenzo took pole - a record third in a row - and looked imperious in the race. Second and third place riders, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi, had nothing in their considerable arsenals to take the challenge to Lorenzo. In fact, Lorenzo's stunning overtaking manoeuvre on Rossi to take the lead on lap 13 appeared to take the wind out of the sails of the Italian - Vale soon dropped to a lonely third.

Rossi refused to blame his Bridgestone tyres for the sudden performance drop-off, but few doubt the Michelin is the tyre to have at present.

With Honda riders Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden crashing out of fourth, Colin Edwards took the position making it three Yamahas in the top four.

John Hopkins finished an encouraging fifth with reigning champ Casey Stoner climbing to sixth after dropping outside the top ten when part of his onboard camera equipment broke free and locked the steering. Yikes. Stoner spent much of race shoving the camera back into position.

But the Portuguese MotoGP was all about Jorge Lorenzo. A star is born.

Portuguese MotoGP 2008 result:

1. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha (M) 45min 53.089 secs

2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Honda (M) 45min 54.906 secs

3. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha (B) 46min 5.812 secs

4. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha (M) 46min 10.312 secs

5. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki (B) 46min 16.841 secs

6. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati (B) 46min 19.777 secs

7. James Toseland GBR Yamaha (M) 46min 25.720 secs

8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Suzuki (B) 46min 29.471 secs

9. Loris Capirossi ITA Suzuki (B) 46min 31.357 secs

10. Shinya Nakano JPN Honda (B) 46min 32.565 secs