Donington Park MotoGP: Steady start for James Toseland

James Toseland made a steady rather than spectacular debut in the British GP today as the Tech 3 Yamaha rider ended the first day of free practice in eighth place at Donington Park.

Toseland posted a best time of 1.29.341 to finish well off the pace of impressive Casey Stoner, but right in the mix of the rest of the field as he finally turned his attention to on the track after a hectic build-up.

The 27-year-old, who was as high as third in this morning’s opening free practice session, said: “The times are very close but unfortunately I found it difficult with the setting we had from the Catalunya test that I thought would work. 

“I came away from that test with a lot of confidence but the settings don’t work here.
“We tried to persevere with it but it was the wrong direction and at the end we made a change and it was night and day different and at least now we are moving the right way.

“I’m really comfortable doing low 29s but with the Catalunya setting I couldn’t enter the corner. I didn’t have the contact with the rear and that was losing me a lot of corner speed.

“Around this track you have to keep it fast and flowing and I couldn’t keep my momentum up. I’m sure I can get it in the 28s and it looks like that will be the race pace so we have got to find a bit more.

“But with more time on the new setting I’m confident we can improve because we found it a bit too late to really dial it in.

“I’m pleased to be in the ballpark, but obviously not pleased with eighth but I don’t think that is a reflection on where we could and should have been.

“It is quite a bit different riding at this track on an 800 that what I did last year in World Superbikes.

“I tried my old lines but they don’t work!

“The speed is just so much faster and that determines the corner speed you carry. Using my old lines I couldn’t square the corner off, so even though I know the track I have to learn and adjust.”

Toseland was grateful to a sizeable Friday crowd as 80,000 British fans are expected to turn up to watch his debut in Sunday’s 30-lap race.

“The support for me out there is amazing with all the JT flags and 52 flags. I think everybody wants to see a British guy do well, so it’s just down to me to get the job done, “said the double World Superbike champion.