The pride of Britain

Mugello MotoGP
Race report
1 June 08

A determined ride by Britain’s James Toseland re-confirmed the 27-year-old’s MotoGP capabilities with his third top-six finish of the season to date. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider had a difficult start to the 23-lap race at Mugello in Italy today in hot conditions. The Isle of Man resident has never raced at the track before and had very little dry practice time to learn the lines and optimise the set-up of the number 52 Yamaha.

Toseland was down in 11th on the first lap from eight position on the starting grid, but he pushed hard to make his way towards the front of the pack. Two particularly spectacular passes at mid-race distance elevated James into a position to fight for a fourth-place finish. However, an overtake by team-mate Colin Edwards – who helped the Brit find the right set-up for Mugello – forced Toseland to settle for sixth place.

The race result – equal best with his two opening races at Jerez and Qatar – moves the Brit up to eighth position overall in the championship standings. With just one point between James and seventh-placed Andrea Dovizioso and one race to go before his home GP at Donington Park on 22 June – at a track that Toseland knows extremely well – the future looks bright for Britain’s only MotoGP contender.

Italian Valentino Rossi secured the race win for Yamaha at his home GP ahead of reigning champion Casey Stoner and third-placed Dani Pedrosa.

“I’m so happy to be on a competitive bike with Tech 3 Yamaha,” says James. “Today’s race was good fun but also hard work because it is so hot and racing at this level is always challenging. I must thank the team and Colin for all of their help this weekend. We gambled with the setting of the bike jut before the race after morning warm-up and it seems to have paid off. It’s a great feeling to be able to put the frustration of the last few races behind me.”

Fans of James Toseland have the opportunity to meet him and cycle two laps of Donington Park with him ahead the British GP, while raising money for Riders for Health. For further information or to register your interest, visit www.bennetts.co.uk and click the Riders for Health button. Keep up to date with all James Toseland news at www.jamestoseland.com

Race result
1. V. Rossi 42:31.153; 2. C. Stoner +2.201; 3. D. Pedrosa +4.867; 4. A. De Angelis +6.313; 5. C. Edwards +12.530; 6. J. Toseland +13.806; 7. L. Capirossi +14.447; 8. A. Dovizioso +15.319; 9. S. Nakano +15.327; 10. C. Vermeulen +30.785

Championship standings
1. Rossi 122; 2. Pedrosa 110; 3. Lorenzo 94; 4. Stoner 76; 5. Edwards 58; 6. Capirossi 51; 7. Dovizioso 44; 8. Toseland 43; 9. Hayden 40; 10. Nakano 35