Struggling Rossi hoping for cooler race

The Fiat Yamaha rider, who has won the last three races, could not get his Bridgestone qualifying tyres to work properly at Barcelona despite Ducati's Casey Stoner taking pole position with the same rubber.

Rossi's pace was more acceptable in race trim, but the Italian is worried that the tyres might have trouble lasting through the 25-lap race if the temperatures stay high.

"We are trying to safeguard the tyre for the 25 laps," Rossi told Italia1 television. "The pace isn't bad, but to do 25 laps will be hard this way. If it's a bit colder tomorrow it might be an advantage."

"We've had some problems, it's been a difficult qualifying session. We thought we would be sorted a bit better, instead we suffered a lot and I was rather slow with the qualifying tyres.

"I think it's just us not being sorted. I'm unable to ride well, I'm not quick enough at turn entry. I'm not quick, I lose a lot in T4, which is a section of the track where I've always been fast, so we'll have to try to understand why."

Rossi added: "I will have to start from the third row so it will be very difficult, also because we aren't completely sorted with race tyres either. We suffer a lot on the right-hand side. The race is long and I don't know what to expect.

"However we will try to solve all the little problems we have, and to do a bit better tomorrow."