Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo admitted his confidence had been knocked by a big moment through the wet turn six in today's qualifying session at Sepang and that pushed him down to fourth place on the grid.

The Factory Yamaha man was the first to encounter the wet patch, caused by a very localised shower, and very nearly lost the front as his went back across the white line. Despite this, he set a fast time but was beaten back by riders who lapped later as the track continued to dry.

"I knew it was a good time but not really enough. I knew that some riders could be faster than me because in these two corners where the track was not completely dry, I have a big moment and from then on, I don't have the confidence to push in these two corners like the others," said Lorenzo, speaking at Sepang.

"So I probably lose, compared to the top three, two or three tenths that enable me to stay in the first row. We have improved the bike so much, I feel much better in the dry but if it rains tomorrow it will be a different thing. I hope it doesn't."