Sepang MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland bemoans early Sepang exit

British rider James Toseland had a disappointing Sepang GP in Malaysia this afternoon as he crashed out on lap three while trying to fight his way back into the points.

The 28-year-old had lost four places on the second lap as he got locked in an early struggled with Anthony West and Randy de Puniet.

Toseland was 12th on the first lap but lost time having collided with West’s factory Kawasaki at the hairpin.

That relegated him back down to 16th and he crashed out on lap three at turn six.
Toseland walked away unscathed but his early exit saw him fail to capitalise on his stunning ride to sixth in Phillip Island earlier this month.

Toseland had been confident of another good display after he found a step with the front-end setting of his Tech 3 Yamaha.

But it was too little too late and he said: “Things never clicked from the start of the weekend although this morning we found a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. But getting it nearly right on Sunday morning means you don’t have time to get a proper feeling with the setting and we made a big change with the front.

“We raised the front and got it to steer better because that was the main issue we had. It was causing me a problem on the brakes and entry and that was messing me up for the rest of the corner. I could brake better and it was made the bike more balanced for the entry and exit.

“Qualifying 12th though makes it tough, especially here and I got boxed in a bit at the first corner. I braked after everybody else and made a couple of places up but ran wide and then it was a real dogfight. I came together with de Puniet and West but then when I picked up the pace I went down.

“I had to run a harder front tyre and I think it just needed another lap to get the temperature in it and I just pushed it too hard and lost the front at turn six. I paid for pushing too hard trying to make up the time I’d lost.

“I was confident after this morning so it is a bit disappointing but I’ll going all out to make amends in Valencia and finish on a high.”