Marco Simoncelli said he was satisfied to be on the front row given the conditions in Italian Grand Prix qualifying.
The Gresini Honda rider had been among the favorites for a home pole given his recent form, which has seen him qualify first or second at each of the last five grands prix.
Though he could only manage third in the brief period of dry running in the Mugello session, Simoncelli was happy just to avoid a disastrous result in the tricky weather.
"Today in the beginning of qualifying the conditions were so strange, so hard, because the track was dry but you were seeing some water on the screen all the time," he said. "So it was difficult. I pushed to make the front row and I'm happy."
He added that he would prefer tomorrow's race to be dry.
"Very unfortunately the conditions, and yesterday, were very bad," Simoncelli said. "It was very good in the morning but very bad in the afternoon. We hope that tomorrow is going to be dry for the race."