Rossi pleased to end pole drought

The Yamaha rider hasn't started from pole since the Catalunya race almost a year ago, so his Mugello result marks the first time he has topped the grid on Bridgestone tyres.

He said he had been pessimistic about his chances of pole after practice, and praised the improvements the team had made prior to qualifying.

"It was tough because it constantly rained yesterday and this morning we had some problems, so I was a bit worried," Rossi told Italia1 television.

"However, I tried to focus to the maximum and I must thank the team, because we've done two or three modifications to the bike that allow me to ride me a lot better.

"I was immediately very fast with the race tyre, and this first pole with Bridgestone is important.

"It's nice to do it at Mugello. It was a long time coming, we've worked a lot to try to improve the qualifying tyres, and in fact they were very good today."

He will be joined on the front row by compatriot Loris Capirossi, who qualified third for Suzuki.

Having benefited from a slipstream from Rossi, Capirossi joked that he would 'buy Rossi a pizza' to say thank you. Rossi replied that he was not expecting any help from his fellow Italian in the race.

"I hope that, rather than buying me a pizza tomorrow, Loris will give me a hand tomorrow," Rossi said.

"But he definitely won't because he wants to win here too. He's very quick here."