Vermeulen struggles with qualifiers

The Suzuki rider has often performed better in races than in qualifying, but said his Barcelona difficulties were down to a specific tyre issue.

"This afternoon was a little different to what I've had in the past," he told autosport.com.

"We stuck the qualifying rear on and it gave us more grip, but I just couldn't get grip out of the front qualifier and kept losing it throught the turns.

"It doesn't give you a lot of confidence. She was tucking in everywhere."

Vermeulen is happier with his choice of race tyre.

"I did 12 laps in a row early on and it felt fine," he said. "I've done a race distance with the front. It's pushing a bit at the end, but it's hanging in there."

Team manager Paul Denning is certain that Vermeulen can make up ground in the race.

"Chris had a great session on race tyres and looked as quick as anyone else out there today, but it just didn't work out for him on the qualifiers," he said.

"It seems like there was a combination of factors that made life difficult to push his lap times further. But as we have already seen this year his racecraft is fantastic and we are expecting a much better finish from Chris than the qualifying position today."