MotoGP: 250 new boys to learn quicker than James Toseland

MotoGP new recruits Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso should be at a more competitive level quicker than James Toseland.

Toseland’s new Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards believes double world 250 champion Lorenzo and Dovizioso will find it easier to adapt faster to an 800cc MotoGP machine than Toseland because of their 250 backgrounds.

Most believe now that a 250 grooming is the preferred route into MotoGP, and Texan Edwards said: “I think it is fair to say that with the 800s, the guys coming from 250s will probably excel faster. A 250 guy knows all the tracks anyway. Superbike is just such a different riding style than what an 800 is. The 990s you could halfway get away with riding it like a superbike and some tracks it didn’t work at all. You try and ride an 800 like a superbike on any track and you are going to be fighting for 12th and 13th.”

Edwards said he believes Toseland will have no problem in adapting to the YZR-M1 800, and has already been hugely impressed with the 27-year-old in two testing appearances in Sepang and Jerez.

But he said the difference in riding style was huge.

“On an 800 it’s all about being smooth and carrying momentum. On a superbike you always had lots of power to bale yourself out. If you got in a bit hot or if you made a little mistake you just cut it tighter and rely on the power to get you out. On an 800, if you try and rely on power you lose half a second in one corner,” said the 33-year-old.