Pre-Season Form Justifies MotoGP Switch for Toseland
Added on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Toseland has impressed at Losail and Jerez
British rider James Toseland believes that his pre-season form has fully vindicated his decision to sign with Yamaha Tech 3 after making the switch from World Superbikes.
The reigning WSB champion had a number offers after deciding to make the change to MotoGP, including approaches from Honda and Ducati but believes that his winter form, culminating in this week’s testing in Qatar, has given him the clearest indication yet that he has made the right decision in opting for the French Tech 3 team.
The Sheffield-born rider, who makes his MotoGP race debut on Sunday at Losail, finished second fastest in the sports first ever full-test under floodlights and was only denies top-spot by Jorge Lorenzo’s final lap of the session.
Toseland told MCN: “I’m just really pleased with the team I’m working with because that was a big decision to make on who I was going to ride for.
“A couple of teams wanted me to ride in MotoGP and myself and my manager Roger Burnett had months and months of speculating between Gresini, Tech 3 and the Pramac team.
“The Ducati was so strong so that was as a big pull and with Gresini I had a very good relationship with Honda.
“Yamaha came up with the only option of riding a 2008 spec bike and that was the best option for me.
“I’m pleased for my team because all the guys have really brought me on a lot quicker than I could have ever expected.”
