Valentino Rossi will start his home Italian MotoGP from the third row of the grid after once agꦕain losing out in qualifying.

The seven time Mugello winner had been holding a place on the front row with jus🐓t a minute to go, only to be shuffled all the way back to seventh, 0.715s from pole sitter Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi had been second quickest oꦅn Friday and fourth in both of Saturday's free practice sessions.

"The practices are not so bad because we have a good pace for th♔e race which is important," said Rossi, riding with a special turtle helmet design for his home event.

"As always in the qualifying we suffer more than t🥃he others. They use the slipstream of the others and are able to go a bit faster than me.

"Unfortunately I have to start on the third row ꧂but I'm quite happy because my pace is quite good so I think with a good start I can do a good race. We 𝕴will see tomorrow."

Rossi ha🐲s not stood on the Mugello podium since 2009.

Teaไm-mate Jorge Lorenzo will start second on Sunday's grid.