Rossi content with second on the grid

The former champion had lacked pace in both Friday's wet sessions and this morning's dry hour, and crashed twice - including a fall on an out-lap earlier today.

He said he had been struggling to make his tyre choice work in the cold and slippery conditions.

"It was probably one of the worst practices in my career," Rossi told the BBC.

"With this (tyre limit) rule it's very difficult and when it was cold we were not able to put the tyre up to temperature.

"I got very angry and I made a stupid mistake at turn one on the exit from the pits. But this afternoon is a lot better.

"We worked well with (crew chief) Jerry (Burgess) and all the team for the settings of the bike. We worked well with Michelin, and I have got a good pace."

Rossi believed he might have held onto pole had he not been baulked by Kurtis Roberts on his final qualifying run. He was on provisional pole at the time, but was subsequently usurped by his Yamaha teammate Colin Edwards.

"Unfortunately Kurtis Roberts was going very slow exactly on the line, so I had to close the throttle, but anyway the second place is good for the start tomorrow, and I hope the weather is good," he said.