French MotoGP: James Toseland suffers first race crash

James Toseland’s hopes of protecting his 100 per cent point-scoring record in his rookie MotooGP record disappeared in Le Mans today when he crashed out of ninth place on lap three.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider was involved in a tangle with Italian Honda rookie Andrea Dovizioso on the exit of the fourth corner and lost the front of his YZR-M1.

The 27-year-old walked away from the crash unhurt as he failed to finish for the first time in his five-race premier class career.

The double World Superbike champion said: ““I’m pretty frustrated because a little mistake ruins all the hard work myself and the team have put in. I wish I could have a second go at it now like you get in World Superbikes!

“I got a great start and really wanted to try and get away with the leaders but I lost a couple of places when John Hopkins came by with a hard but fair move. Andrea then made a small mistake and went slightly wide at the fourth corner and as I tried to go underneath him he came back on line and took my front wheel.

“It was just a racing incident but very disappointing because after that good start I felt like I could have got a good result.”