Valentino Rossi blames set-up as anticipated strong wet performance fails to materialise for Ducati in Germany

Wet conditions have typically suited the Italian squad in 2012, with Rossi's sole podium coming in torrential conditions at Le Mans.

While Nicky Hayden managed to get himself into the pole fight, Rossi's challenge never materialised, a fact he blamed on a poor set-up choice at the rear of his bike.

"We were expecting more from a rainy session because normally we're really quite fast in the wet, but unfortunately we made a small mistake on the set-up with the back end of the bike," he admitted after qualifying ninth.

"With so much water on the track, this made it somewhat difficult in T2 and T3. Unfortunately, losing some tenths in that area put me on the third row, despite being fast in the first and last sectors.

"On the plus side, the data makes it clear where we made the mistake, and if there's a wet race, fixing those details should make us more competitive.

"If the race should be dry, I hope that the warm-up will be as well, because over the entire weekend we've only had 45 minutes of dry time."

Hayden, who held provisional pole several times during the frantic climax to qualifying, said traffic had cost him several grid spots as he ended up seventh.

"Things felt much better toward the end, and I was on pole with about five minutes to go, only to get held up on the last two laps," he said.

"I know traffic is a common excuse, but it was real today, and I certainly would have been up a couple more spots on the grid. I'm really frustrated to be starting on the third row, but we'll give it our best in the race tomorrow."