Rossi geared up to push from third row

Valentino Rossi’s weekend at Indianapolis continued to be a testing one for the Fiat Yamaha rider on Saturday, as he qualified in seventh place for the race having experienced a fall in both the morning practice and afternoon qualifying sessions.

The Italian was grateful to have escaped injury in either crash and was pleased with some of the progress he made on his M1, and will start the race from the furthest back he has been since he qualified in tenth in Valencia in 2008 – a race he finished third in.

"We worked hard today to try to recover the feeling we've lost and we have made some improvement. Unfortunately I crashed at the worst point in the session, with the soft tyre in and doing some fast laps but with not enough time left to try again,” said Rossi, who fell with little over five minutes of qualifying left to go.

“It could have been worse because I thought I would end up much further back than seventh, so we can be happy for this. This track is very bumpy and I really think something needs to be done to some parts of it to improve it. I don't know when the last time I crashed twice on one day is but for sure it was many years ago, back in the 90s perhaps! Luckily I am okay, nothing is hurt and this is the most important thing.”

Rivals Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner qualified in fifth and sixth and Rossi is anticipating a battle with the pair as all three look to make up ground early in the race.

“I think tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day because me, Pedrosa and Stoner are all behind the front row which is unusual. It could be fun!” concluded the 31 year-old.