Randy de Puniet is still confident he can deliver his best result of the year so far in the Aragon Grand Prix even though qualifying did not live up to the expectations practice had raised.
Sixth on Friday morning, third in Saturday's practice session and a long spell in the top five in qualifying had suggested that de Puniet and Pramac Ducati might deliver a giant-killing result at Aragon.
But as other riders found time on the soft tire at the end of qualifying, de Puniet tumbled to 10th.
He remains certain that he has a competitive package and rued not delivering the grid position he felt the bike deserved.
"I'm feeling confident with the bike, even though I didn't do the qualifying I expected," de Puniet told the official MotoGP website.
"I was sixth yesterday, third this morning, and all this session I was in the top six. When I put the soft tire on, I didn't do a perfect lap. I lost some tenths and I wouldn't have been able to be on the second row but maybe the third row."
De Puniet's best 2011 result to date was eighth in the Indianapolis GP, and he believes a repeat of that finish is the least that is achievable.
"I did my lap time with the hard tire and tomorrow I can do my best result," he said.
"I finished eighth in Indy, I think it's possible to be in the top eight. I think my pace is really good – better than my place on the grid, and this is important."