Randy de Puniet still confident he will shine in Aragon Grand Prix despite qualifying anti-climax

Sixth on Friday morning, third in Saturday's practice session and a long spell in the top five in qualifying had suggested that de Puniet and Pramac Ducati might deliver a giant-killing result at Aragon.

But as other riders found time on the soft tyre at the end of qualifying, de Puniet tumbled to 10th.

He remains certain that he has a competitive package and rued not delivering the grid position he felt the bike deserved.

"I'm feeling confident with the bike, even though I didn't do the qualifying I expected," de Puniet told the official MotoGP website.

"I was sixth yesterday, third this morning, and all this session I was in the top six. When I put the soft tyre on, I didn't do a perfect lap. I lost some tenths and I wouldn't have been able to be on the second row but maybe the third row."

De Puniet's best 2011 result to date was eighth in the Indianapolis GP, and he believes a repeat of that finish is the least that is achievable.

"I did my lap time with the hard tyre and tomorrow I can do my best result," he said.

"I finished eighth in Indy, I think it's possible to be in the top eight. I think my pace is really good - better than my place on the grid, and this is important."