Rossi seeks qualifying improvements

The former champion is confident he can fight with the leaders in the race, but was half a second slower than pole-winner Dani Pedrosa in qualifying today.

"We did our best with the qualifying tyres, we did everything possible, but unfortunately we missed the front row by a whisker," Rossi told Italia1 television.

"A 1:33.1 isn't a bad lap time, even though we were hoping to set a 1:32.9, but we didn't manage that. Our target was the first row: we didn't do it, but we were almost there.

"There's still work to do on the qualifying tyres. We are working, we need to improve in several aspects. We are closer, but once again today I was half a second slower than Pedrosa. We must try to do better."

He expects a tough race at the front of the field, but is confident he can match the riders who out-qualified him, including Pedrosa.

"As race pace he's very quick but he doesn't seem quicker than us," Rossi told reporters when asked if he could match Pedrosa.

"In the first laps Dani usually looks like struggling a little bit while trying to get the tyres up to temperatures, so it will be important to try to give him some trouble. In any case he's very quick here, he's riding very well, so it will be tough to beat him but we'll try to.

"Then we'll need to see what Colin (Edwards) does, because his pace is super quick. He usually doesn't go as well in the race as in qualifying, so we'll have to see if he can keep it up throughout the race."

Rossi added that he was not surprised to see reigning champion Casey Stoner returning to form, as the Ducati rider qualified on the outside of the front row at Le Mans.

"I've always said that Stoner is extremely quick and is one of the biggest pretenders to the title," Rossi said.

"We saw he worked a lot today, they changed a lot in the bike, and in the end they were very quick with the race tyre, so he will be in the fight tomorrow."

But he does not think his injured teammate Jorge Lorenzo will be a major factor, despite the rookie qualifying just 0.122 seconds slower than Rossi in sixth.

"Lorenzo isn't at his best, his foot hurt and he fell," Rossi said. "It's a difficult weekend for him. I think he can do a good race, but I think I can go quicker than him and finish in front of him."