Lorenzo expecting tough race

Lorenzo, who set the pace in Friday practice, could not find a suitable balance on hard tyres during the hour-long qualifying session, concerning him ahead of the race.

"The conditions were more or less the same as yesterday afternoon, but still sometimes you don't have the same grip or the same confidence as before. It's not the happiest day of my life," said the 22-year-old Spaniard.

"For sure, if we continue like this, it's going to be very difficult for tomorrow."

Lorenzo was, however, happy with his bike's one-lap pace - a switch to a soft rear tyre late in the session allowing him to leap up from fifth on the grid to second on his final flying lap.

"Fortunately, when I put on the softer tyres we made a big step forward," he added. "And tomorrow is the race, so we will try for it and you never know what may happen."