Catalunya MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland content with sixth

James Toseland admitted he was content with a hard fought sixth place in today’s Catalunya GP, despite running off track after a tangle on lap two with Valentino Rossi.

The British rider scored his fourth top six in seven races in his rookie campaign to move back into the top seven in the championship standings.

Toseland dropped back to 11th on lap eight but once again showed his overtaking prowess to surge through to sixth, with only factory Yamaha rider Rossi making more passes than the double World Superbike champion.

Toseland said: “”I’m a little bit mad with myself because like in Mugello, I believe there was a fourth here. I got an okay start and was about seventh but Valentino came by in the first corner. It was a clean move but he left it late, so we were side-by-side going in and there was no way I could turn in because he was there.

“There was nothing wrong with the pass but I had to go straight on and that lost me the gap. Whether you are doing the same times as the rest of them or not, you can only pull back small amounts of time. We changed the bike this morning and it took a couple of laps to get used to the feel of it.

“I’d been running soft tyres most of the weekend doing good lap times but going a bit harder for the race, I just didn’t have as much grip at the start and it took me a couple of laps to get used to it and I didn’t push it hard enough.”

While content with sixth place, Toseland admitted he felt ready now to break into the top five for the first time.

He added: “At this point I’m content with where I am but I’m getting impatient because I feel I can do better, so that’s why I’m a bit disappointed with sixth. If I finish sixth and know I couldn’t do anymore I’m happy, but now I feel there is more in the bag now.

“But we have really got this new setting working well and it will be a really good package at Donington where I can’t wait to go. It’s my first home Grand Prix and it feels a long time since I’ve been to a track I know.

“I’m getting regular top six finishes but the target at Donington will be to finish much higher and I’m confident I can do it.