Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi said he lost out to podium rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez during MotoGP qualifying at Motegi today as they were able to run a faster pace as the track began to dry out.
The Doctor, who has been in second until the dying minutes, struggled to match the speed of the championship challengers, and starts from the second row tomorrow.
"It's not so bad, I hope to arrive on the front row. I am not so far but I am behind. I was in a better shape when it was full wet, I feel better with the bike. After the conditions coming better and I arrive with less water on the track in some places so already quite dry, I suffer a bit more," said Rossi, speaking at Motegi.
"I was able to improve my time but not enough so I have to start from the second row but anyway, all will be a surprise because if tomorrow it is dry, we have to make the best for the warm-up and then try to arrive competitive for the race."