MotoGP: James Toseland looking for podium places

Britain’s James Toseland says he’s finally realising he can continue his World Superbike success in MotoGP.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider has so far enjoyed two top six finishes in Qatar and Jerez plus a front row start at the season opener, but now he’s ready to fight for a podium place.

Toseland told MCN: “Two sixths in the first two races is a good solid start and it’s nice to know that there’s the potential to continue the success in GPs I had in World Superbikes. The success I had in Superbikes became addictive.”

The Tech 3 Yamaha team will receive their new pneumatic valve engines this week in time for the Portugese MotoGP, and Toseland feels this and their already impressive performances by him and team-mate Colin Edwards means they can push even harder for places.

“With the new engine in Portugal we will be good enough to push for podium places.

“It’s a good 10-12 kilometres faster so that’s going to make a hell of a difference on the straight.”

Between the Jerez MotoGP and ahead of his flight to Portugal tomorrow, James Toseland has been recovering from bronchitis, went to the snowed-off Brands Hatch British Superbike round and has also been answering phones at Bennetts as part of a promotion they’re running giving away free insurance policies.

But he says he’s careful these demands do not encroach on his training too much.

“It can affect things but I have got a good management team behind me with Roger Burnett. You can’t let anything take you away from training and this is why being ill isn’t good because it does take you away from it,” Toseland added.