Rossi expecting very tough race

The 30-year-old beat his championship rivals to pole after outpacing team-mate Lorenzo and watching Stoner save a massive high-side late in the session, but he warned the balance of power could change in Saturday's race.

"Especially Stoner and Lorenzo are very strong with the race tyres," he said. "But anyway we have a good pace and I feel good with the bike.

"We tried some modifications in practice to understand it better. There are two or three parts of the track where I hope it is possible to improve for tomorrow."

Rossi added that he was delighted to take what he termed his first 'proper' pole position of the year.

"I am so happy because the pole position is always a great taste. I did just one this year in Motegi, in the strange conditions, but this is a real pole position with a great lap at the end.

"It's always difficult with the traffic because in the last seven or eight minutes I have always had five riders behind. So I have to understand exactly where I had to push.

"It is a good lap time, I am happy about the setting. I'm working well with my team and it looks like my Yamaha is good at this track. So we will wait for tomorrow and we hope for good weather."