Jerez test: James Toseland confident after Bridgestone debut

James Toseland ended his Bridgestone debut in positive mood at Jerez, the 27-year-old finishing ninth on the final day of track action in 2008.

The British rider clocked a best time of 1.40.752 on the final day, which was good enough for a top ten finish and not the lowly 12th that the official timesheets stated.

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An error had Toseland down as only posting a 1.41.740 as he slowly but surely built up his confidence on the Japanese rubber, having spent his rookie premier class campaign on Michelin rubber.

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Riding a modified 2008 Yamaha YZR-M1 with a much shorter wheelbase set-up pioneered by Valentino Rossi last season, Toseland’s best time came late in the day on his 44th of 45 laps completed.

He was actually a full second faster on the final day, and not 0.2s slower than his first day time as the timesheets suggested.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider, working with new crew chief Gary Reynders for the first time, told MCN: “We have only had two different fronts and two different rears and that keeps it nice and simple and also allows you to concentrate a lot more on the set-up of the bike. You can adapt the bike quicker to the tyres.

“The feedback from the tyres is impressive, particularly with braking stability on the front. For me it gives overall good feedback from trail braking right into the middle of the corner, so I’m pleased in that area. I did 26 laps on the same rear today and I was still in the 41s, which I’m pleased with.”

Toseland, who was sixth quickest yesterday, also tried a new braking style today to try and help him for his second season in MotoGP in 2009.

He added: “I’m braking harder on the initial braking point. I wasn’t braking enough and by braking later, it was costing me corner speed, and that’s what these 800s are all about.”