For the second race in a row MotoGP was a victim of severe weather conditions today, when qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix was cancelled amidst torrential rain at the Motegi Twin Ring meaning that Valentino Rossi (top) will be on pole.

For the second race in a row MotoGP was a victim of severe weather conditions today, when Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix was cancelled amidst torrential rain at the Motegi Twin Ring. The decision to abandon the session meant that the grid for tomorrow's race was decided on the fastest times from all free practices, leaving Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi on pole and Jorge Lorenzo in third.

This morning's session was the first wet practice of the season and offered the riders their first chance to try out the new generation of Bridgestone rain tyres. Rossi and Lorenzo were happy to find their wet settings working well from the off and the Italian finished the session second with his Spanish team-mate in fourth. Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards made it a good morning for Yamaha by topping the time sheets.

The rain became heavier throughout the morning and by the early afternoon there was plenty of standing water on the track. MotoGP practice was delayed until 1500 but by then it was clear that the rain was not stopping and the decision was taken to cancel the session for safety reasons. With the grid being formed on free practice times, Rossi and Lorenzo's strong showing in the only dry session yesterday stands them in good stead for tomorrow's race, which is expected to be dry.

Valentino Rossi- Position: 1st Time: 1'48.545

"We've been very unlucky in these two races and last year as well, because we've just had so much rain! This year has been worse though because first we had to delay the race in Qatar and now we've had to cancel qualifying here. I don't think it was such a good idea to come to Motegi in April! So now we're going into a race after just 45 minutes in the dry and 45 minutes in the wet, and I think maybe it will be one of the most uncertain races ever! We're lucky because we had a good session in the dry yesterday and so we're on pole, which is very important for the race here but it's still impossible to be at 100% after such a short time and with so little data. In the dry this morning our setting worked well also so I think we can fight whether it's dry or wet, and after all it's the same for everybody. Of course I would prefer it to be dry but above all I hope it's not half and half, I hope it's either fully wet or fully dry otherwise it will be even more difficult."

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 3rd Time: 1'48.965

"I am relieved to be on the front row and very happy we were able to do such a good time yesterday. Today is a pity but anyway I am fast in the dry and in the wet so I feel good for the race tomorrow. My bike is working well in both types of conditions and it feels good in the braking and through the chassis. Of course we don't have so much data but we have options for a wet or a dry race so now we just have to wait and see how it is tomorrow morning."

Davide Brivio - Team Manager

"It's a pity about the rain today and a shame to have to cancel the session but the conditions meant it was impossible. It was good to have a first chance to test in the wet this morning but it could have been useful to have more time this afternoon. Now it looks like it will be dry tomorrow but our setting yesterday was not bad so we hope we can make the most of this pole position. It will be interesting to see how we can perform in this race with so little track time. Now we are just hoping for a dry race and we will be looking forward to fighting at the front."

Daniele Romagnoli - Team Manager

"It's been a very strange day today without qualifying, but Jorge has a good front row so this is important. This morning in the wet we were quite fast, although we still need to find some more traction. It seems tomorrow it's more likely to be dry so yesterday's session will be very important to help us to have the right race setting. We are ready and confident that we can do a good race whatever the weather."