Andrea Iannone feels Scott Redding cost him Qatar MotoGP pole shot

Iannone, who set the pace in both of Friday's practice sessions, started his last lap in third position.

After bettering polesitter Jorge Lorenzo's times in the first two sectors and then setting a personal best in the third, Iannone estimates he lost three tenths when he encountered Redding - who was on a flying lap on the way to 12th - at the final corner.

Iannone still improved to within 0.150 seconds of Lorenzo, but dropped to fourth in the final reckoning, behind Suzuki's Maverick Vinales.

"When I arrived on the last lap, Scott went really slow at the last corner and when I arrived at the braking point he went inside," Iannone said.

"It was possible to keep the first row and go for the pole position but unfortunately Scott stayed in front of me.

"I am a little bit disappointed about this. But this is qualifying and sometimes life is like this."

Even from the second row of the grid, Iannone believes he has "a really good possibility" to score a strong result.

As Ducati looks to end its five-year run without a win, it starts Sunday's race with a top-speed advantage, and buoyed by "not so bad" long stints during Qatar's pre-season test a fortnight ago.

"On the long run at the test we had really good pace and I feel positive for tomorrow," he said.