Melandri rues 'lively' outlap

The Honda Gresini rider, who was 32 hundredths of a second slower than pole sitter Dani Pedrosa, said that the outlap worn out his tyres too much, thus preventing him from taking a better grid slot.

"I thought I would be almost able to fight for the front row," the Italian told Italia1, "but I went out a bit slow with the first tyre on the outlap and it didn't get up to temperature.

"So with the second tyre I went out a bit more lively but unfortunately I paid for it, because when I got to T4 the tyre was worn out and at the last hairpin I couldn't get on the gas, and that's where I lost two tenths which cost me almost two rows.

"In qualifying I've improved greatly: up to now I was never able to be quick, while here I've found a front race tyre I like very much, so I preferred to concentrate on that and used the qualifying tyre only at the rear.

"I'm in ninth place so I didn't expect such a selective session. That's why I said qualifying is difficult: you have two flying laps and you can't make mistakes otherwise your race is ruined."

Asked on Bridgestone's development of a front qualifying tyre, Melandri replied: "They are working on a front qualifying tyre. A rough one was made quickly at the beginning of the year but is not as efficient as it should be, and it doesn't go better than the race tyre because that one goes very well.

"I think we'll bring something new on Monday, but I just want to think about tomorrow's 27 laps. It will be a long race.

Despite the difficulties in qualifying, Melandri is confident the work done in free practice as preparation for the race will pay dividends.

"In race configuration we had a good pace this morning. We did a good job, the tyres work very well.

"Tomorrow I'll need a good start: I hope it'll be like the one I had in Qatar and most of all I hope I'll be able to save the tyres a bit. Here the straight isn't very long and our bike works very well.

"I'm satisfied, I think we have good potential for tomorrow. We'll see whether they'll wait for me in the first few laps or if they'll want to get away immediately."