Pedrosa thanks Rossi's tow for lap

The Spaniard, who took pole position himself at Le Mans earlier this year, followed Rossi as the Yamaha rider pressed on during his pole lap to take full advantage and dispose the second factory Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo to third.

"I was lucky at the end to get Valentino Rossi in front," said Pedrosa. "He helped me a lot to get the lap time. The front row here is very important so this is good.

"This afternoon we have to improve the bike setting a little bit more for the race tyres," added Pedrosa. "Now I hope tomorrow it is dry and we can have a good race."

Pedrosa also emphasised that after two days of a grand prix weekend, he felt his fitness was much better than at Barcelona two week's ago.

"I'm feeling much better than Barcelona," he said. "This helps me to concentrate a lot more on the bike because when you have pain it is difficult to ride.

"Of course it is not a 100% but I am really happy from Barcelona to here."