Tardozzi writes off Toseland chances
Added on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Tardozzi writes off Toseland chances
New BMW boss Davide Tardozzi has claimed that British rider James Toseland has ‘lost something’ during his two-year stint in MotoGP and that 2010 could prove to be a tough year for the 2007 champion.
Toseland returns to WSB with Yamaha for the new season after a tough two-year stint in MotoGP but Tardozzi believes that the Brit, who is one of the favourites for the WSB championship this year, could be upstaged by his rookie teammate Cal Crutchlow.
“James Toseland is a question mark to me,” Tardozzi told the official WSB website. “I know James very well and he needs to find something that at this stage he has lost, in the last two years I guess. He is a good rider. When he proves that he gets his confidence back, for sure he will fight for the podiums.”
“I expect a big fight between ‘the Italians’ – by that I mean [Max] Biaggi and Aprilia versus both top Ducati riders [Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio] – and Johnny Rea and Cal Crutchlow behind them,” he added. “I am so, so confident for Cal.”
Crutchlow secured the World Supersport championship for Yamaha in his rookie season last year, earning a promotion to the World Superbike team this season.
Speaking on his own expectations for the BMW team, entering its second WSBK season in 2010, Tardozzi is confident of podium finishes for his riders, Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus.
“For me our point zero will be after the Portimao tests. Then we will see how the gap is between the rest of top guys and us. From there we really start,” he explained.
“I know both of our riders have the talent to do it. I really feel it will be a huge part of my job to bring back those riders, and motivate my riders, Troy and Ruben. That was a huge bet that I made with myself, saying that I need to get back those guys on the podium.
“I see from midseason until the end, us fighting sometimes for the podium and maybe, maybe, doing something better.”
