Indy MotoGP: Grip concern for James Toseland

British rider James Toseland has expressed his concern about how different layers of tarmac at the new Indianapolis circuit will perform in heavy rain predicted for the weekend.

There are at least three surface changes on the new Indy circuit, which has been built on the inside of the famous oval track, and Toseland fears the varying grip levels might have a big impact this weekend.

Heavy rain has been forecast for the majority of the weekend, and the Tech 3 Yamaha rider told MCN: “In the dry I don’t think it will be too much of a problem but with it looking certain to be wet then there are a couple of barriers that look a little bit close.

“Turn five is one and then at the end of the back straight. There are three or four different pieces of tarmac, which in the dry is not so bad, but in the wet there might be a big difference with the grip level and that could be an issue.

“The oldest surface that I can see has got quite a few cracks in it and it feels really bumpy. And we know these MotoGP bikes and how stiff they are they don’t like the bumps. But we have got to wait and see. We know it is going to rain and I hope there is not a massive difference in grip.”

Toseland said he wasn’t overly concerned by a lack of run off at the first corner, which was an issue raised during tyre testing in early July.

He added: “The first corner comes off a long straight and in the dry not too much of an issue but in the wet, one problem is everything stays at a similar speed until we hit something. The first corner I’m not too worried about with the air fence and you are not hitting a flush surface, but in a couple of other places a bike will definitely reach the wall which then becomes a safety issue for the marshals.”

Parts of the circuit are also incredibly tight, but Toseland reckons that was inevitable with Indy bosses having to work in such a confined space.

The 27-year-old, who is hoping to challenge for a top six finish in Sunday’s 28-lap race, said: “It is tight in places. It is in the middle of an oval so you have got to use the straights at some point and then you have got to come inside it. You have got a restricted area to work inside so things have got to be a bit tight and twisty to get the length of the circuit. You can’t have a really fast and flowing track with the size restrictions on the inside. It reminds me of the Lausitzring and that is inside an oval too.”