Injured Tamada hoping to race.

Last September saw Makoto Tamada start the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril from pole position, but the 2005 edition of the race will see the Japanese line-up in last place on the grid - if at all.

Tamada fell from Konica Minolta Honda at the increasingly notorious turn six early in this afternoon's qualifying session and, while not a particularly heavy accident, an awkward landing saw the 2004 race winner injure his wrist - preventing him from riding in the rest of the session and putting his race in doubt.

"I'm very disappointed for what happened today," said Makoto. "I was only at the beginning of the qualifying session and I still needed to find the right balance of the bike.

"The doctors are trustful that I can race tomorrow, but we'll only take the definitive decision in the early hours of Sunday morning," he confirmed. "My hope is that I will ride, even if I know that starting from last position and with pain in my wrist it will not be easy, but I will try to give my best."

"This hasn't been for us such a good beginning of the season," commented team manger Luca Montiron. "Now our hope is that we have paid the bill to bad luck and things could turn around in the right direction for us, especially after what Makoto had shown in the pre season."