Toseland hoping fans turn out in Assen
Added on Friday, April 23rd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Toseland hoping fans turn out in Assen
James Toseland is hoping that the British motorcycle fans defy the transport chaos of the past week to cheer on the Brits at Assen in this weekend’s World Superbike round.
The Netherlands round of the World Superbike championship will go ahead this weekend despite the transport disruption caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, with the Yamaha rider hoping to build on his podium finish in Valencia two weeks ago.
The TT circuit at Assen has always proved a popular venue with British fans, with thousands regularly travelling from the UK to the continent and with seven Brits lining up on the grid including championship leader Leon Haslam, Toseland hopes that the recent disruption has not put-off fans from making the trip.
“Assen is a track I have raced at many, many times and I’ve been lucky enough to win there a few times,” he told PA Sport.
“The preparation has been more chaotic than normal this week as we’ve spent a lot of time figuring out how to actually get to the track but thankfully Holland is not far away and the ferry is an easy enough option.
“We always get a lot of British fans at Assen and I hope that is the same this weekend. We need their support and especially this season with so many British riders it would be great to see them all there.
“We have seven riders racing at world standard and every one of us deserves to be.
“It’s great to see. Leon has started really well and the Suzuki looks a great bike. It’s consistently fast and he is the man to beat at the moment.”
And Toseland is hoping to build up some momentum in the championship after a disappointing start on his return to WSB, with the former MotoGP rider sitting 73 points behind Haslam in the rider’s standings.
“It’s been a tough 18 months with one thing and another and particularly losing my MotoGP ride,” he claimed.
“To come back to WSB and get back up on the podium was a sign that my hard work is paying off. It’s been a tough start, I hurt my hand in a crash but I feel that things are coming strong now.
“Our bike should be good at Assen. We’ve had no problem round the fast circuits, it’s the slower corners which have been a problem for us so fingers crossed we’ll be on the pace.
“There has already been nine or 10 different leaders this season so it is a really open championship and there are so many potential winners.
“Consistency is going to be the key. I’ve won this championship twice before and that experience should hold me in good stead.
“I came from behind to win the title in 2004 and then was leading the whole way in 2007 so I know how to win.”
