The Spanish Pole Position Jinx!

Once again at the Indianapolis Grand Prix the two Spanish riders who qualified on pole failed to go on to win the race. So far this year Spanish riders have dominated the pole position without converting them into wins, as shown by the following facts:

Spanish riders have taken nineteen pole positions across the three GP classes so far this year from the thirty- four races that have taken place.

On only one occasion in 2009 has a Spanish rider gone on to win the race from pole position – Julian Simon at the German Grand Prix.

This is just 5% of wins from pole for Spanish riders this year against an overall average of more than 40% of riders on pole who go on to win the race.

The last Spanish rider to win from pole in the 250cc class is Alvaro Bautista at the Dutch TT last year – since then Spanish riders have started from pole on eight occasions in the 250cc class without going on to win the race.

In the MotoGP class, the last Spanish rider to win from pole was Jorge Lorenzo in Portugal last year. Since then Spanish riders have started from MotoGP pole on nine occasions without going on to win.