Simoncelli desperate for good race

The Gresini Honda rider has been a frontrunner all year, but despite starting in the top two on the grid at the last four races, he has yet to finish on the podium - largely due to a string of race day crashes.

"I'm very happy with this pole position," said Simoncelli.

"Now I hope to also be happy tomorrow after the race, because this year every time in practice I was also so fast, and in the races every time something happens and I can't get the result me and my team deserve.

"Here I'm confident with the bike. I'm riding well, like at the other tracks."

The Assen MotoGP race is unique in being held on a Saturday rather than the usual Sunday. Simoncelli joked that as in previous events he had managed to impress through Saturday then seen his weekends fall apart on Sundays, the different day for the Dutch GP might bode well.

"Up to now, until Saturday I was very fast. Tomorrow the race is on Saturday... so I hope everything goes well," he said.