Rossi expects closer battle in race

Rossi is aiming for a fourth consecutive Barcelona win to help close the nine-point gap to Stoner in the championship. He was the only man able to beat Randy de Puniet's time in qualifying, but believes his title rivals and Hopkins' rapidly-improving Suzuki will be closer in the race.

"This year the Yamaha and Michelins work very well for qualifying and I'm able to make a lot of good laps, and I also enjoy riding the bike," said Rossi, who has qualified on the front row for every race except the French Grand Prix this year.

"It's important to start from the first position, for sure, but the race is tomorrow and it will be a hard battle because Pedrosa, Stoner and maybe also Hopkins have a good rhythm like me. So maybe we'll see a good battle."

The former champion said that the Catalunya circuit - where he has won five times in the last six seasons - is as important to him as his home track Mugello, where he took a sixth successive victory last weekend.

"I'm not able to decide which one is the best for me between Mugello and Barcelona, and to have two Grands Prix like this in the same week is very exciting - so I'm happy," Rossi said.

"The pole position is always a great pleasure. Riding this track in front of this crowd is always fantastic."