Stoner: traffic issues cost me front row

The Ducati rider dominated practice in Istanbul, but will start only fourth in tomorrow's race.

He said that a lack of feeling on his first qualifying tyre and some missed gears compromised his initial flying lap.

When Stoner rejoined for another attempt, he slowed to try and allow other bikes to pull away and give him clear space for his fast lap, but was frustrated by his rivals' lack of co-operation.

"With the second tyre I know it very well, but there were a lot of people tailing me, waiting on me," he said.

"I was almost at walking pace to try and get rid of them. That then meant that the tyre was too cold for the start of the lap itself.

"I wasn't too confident. In the first sector I was nearly four tenths down. I was 13th and ninth on the first splits.

"If all of this hadn't have happened, then for sure we would have been - for sure - on the front row."