Rossi: pole critical to avoid overheating

The former champion is keen to avoid a repeat of the water temperature problems that struck his Yamaha at the Sachsenring last weekend - and at several races, including Laguna, in 2006.

The temperature problem is exacerbated when running in traffic, and Rossi crashed in Germany while making an urgent bid to pass Randy de Puniet and get into clear air.

"We have some modifications for bike, small modifications because the time is short, but the bigger improvement for the water temperature is to try to start at the front and not lose so much time with a lot of slow riders," Rossi said.

"So for sure, for me, the qualifying is important to try to start in front."

When asked if Laguna would be the most important qualifying session of the season, Rossi replied: "Yes, because we are not very fast at the start and we have the water temperature problem, so we have to do a big effort with the qualifying to try to start in the first row."

But despite his concerns about overheating, Rossi believes he has a competitive package for the weekend.

"The Yamaha is not so bad, it's a lot better than last year," he said.

"We already have quite a good setting - we have to make it better, but for first practice it's good. The lap time is already good and I'm quite fast."

He is also confident about Michelin's tyre options for the hot conditions and the resurfaced track.

"We start with something very soft and I think we have good tyres for Sunday," Rossi said. 

"For sure for 30 laps we have to use something harder, but the feeling is not so bad and I'm quite happy."