Alvaro Bautista was unable to follow up his promising free practice form with anything more than an eighth place start in tomorrow's Dutch TT after qualifying this afternoon was interrupted for the Spaniard first by a rain shower and then by a crash. Even though the riders were able to return to the drying track once the shower had passed it certainly didn't help the Team San Carlo Honda Gresini rider, who at least has the race pace to suggest he can make up positions tomorrow.

Michele Pirro continued to close the gap to the pair of Aprilias currently leading the CRT chase, the Italian setting a solid race pace to suggest he can cause them a problem in tomorrow's race.

Alvaro Bautista ( 8th 1’ 34” 722 )
"It was a shame about the crash because we did such a good job this morning and our pace was strong. This afternoon the rain came first, which set us back, and then when I went back out and tried to push I lost the front and crashed, which cost me a lot of grid positions. The good thing is we are fast and our rhythm is good so we just have to try and get a good start, make up positions as quickly as possible and not lose contact with the front guys."

This afternoon the rain came first, which set us back, and then when I went back out and tried to push I lost the front and crashed, which cost me a lot of grid positions

Michele Pirro (14th 1’ 36” 647)
"We lost half of the session to the rain this afternoon and that didn't help us but we have closed the gap a little to the two best CRT bikes and this is positive. Obviously we still have some things to do, especially to solve a bad vibration, but I'm sure the team can help resolve it tomorrow and put me in a position to be fighting to be the top CRT."

Fausto Gresini
"It was a shame because we had been enjoying a good weekend up until this afternoon and we could have done without the crash. Unfortunately he dropped several positions and it doesn't do his true potential justice. Obviously the rain didn't help either but now we have to look to the warm-up tomorrow, make some final improvements and then hope to make a good start and recover positions in the race. Michele did well despite a small technical problem but I believe our engineers can give him the bike to put on a strong performance tomorrow."

Qualifying Times

Front Row
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 1'33.713
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1'33.828
3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1'34.001

Second Row
4. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 1'34.035
5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 1'34.486
6. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1'34.644

Third Row
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 1'34.698
8. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 1'34.722
9. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 1'34.751

Fourth Row
10. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 1'35.057
11. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 1'35.289
12. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Power Electronics Aspar 1'35.830

Fifth Row
13. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Power Electronics Aspar 1'36.007
14. Michele Pirro (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'36.647
15. Mattia Pasini (ITA) Speed Master 1'36.943

Sixth Row
16. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Came Iodaracing Project 1'36.967
17. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 1'37.110
18. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Avintia Racing 1'37.191

Seventh Row
19. James Ellison (UK) Paul Bird Motorsport 1'37.281
20. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 1'37.554
21. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 1'38.305