Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow showed outstanding wet weather riding skills this afternoon to mount a brilliant challenge for pole position at a rain-soaked Sachsenring track in Germany.

The tight and twisty Sachsenring was hit by monsoon conditions throughout today's qualifying session but Crutchlow excelled on his YZR-M1 machine to battle for a fourth front row start in the 2012 MotoGP World Championship. A late attack by Casey Stoner, Ben Spies and Dani Pedrosa though put Crutchlow on the second row but once again he was the leading non-factory rider and the 26-year-old carries high hopes of securing a maiden podium in tomorrow's 30-lap race.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso is a past master of adverse weather conditions and he demonstrated his wet weather potential by lapping inside the top three in the opening half of the session. But he was unable to improve on his best pace of 1.33.205 and he will start from eighth position on the grid.

Cal Crutchlow

"That was a really tough session because the rain was coming down really hard at times and it was easy to get caught out and make a mistake. Considering how bad the conditions were I am really happy to be so close to the front row. If the rain is the same tomorrow it will be a very tricky race and a real test of concentration. It won't be any easier in the dry either considering the lack of dry track time. I'll be giving it my best as always and hopefully I'll be battling inside the top five again."

Andrea Dovizioso

"I am little bit upset to be starting from the third row because this track is very tight and it is very hard to overtake on. I can't be too disappointed though and we improved the rain set-up of the bike a lot today and I think my potential for the race is a lot higher than eighth. If the rain is as bad in the race as this afternoon then it will be a very tough race."

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