Toseland relieved at Valencia podium
Added on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Toseland relieved at Valencia podium
James Toseland expressed his delight at securing his first podium finish for nearly three years as he earned his first rostrum since moving back to World Superbikes in Valencia at the weekend.
The 2007 champion last stepped on the podium for the first time in any class since September 2007 at Vallelunga (although the Brit forgot that achievement, instead believing that his last top three was in at Brands Hatch one month prior), securing his best result so far since rejoining WSB from MotoGP this year.
It was a result that brought massive relief for Toseland, who was delighted that the work that both he and Yamaha are putting in behind the scenes is seemingly starting to pay off after a slow start.
Toseland later finished 7th in race two in Valencia but he was still pleased with the progress being made.
“Race one was great, it’s always nice when the team work so hard to be able to repay them with a result,” he claimed. “I was probably the widest man out there because I certainly wasn’t the quickest after half race distance, I was finding a few things a bit difficult with the bike. It was great though to dig deep and get a podium, my first podium this year and my first since Brands 2007 I think. It’s been a while since I took a trophy home so I was very happy.
“The team are working unbelievably hard, we’ve got some issues but we’re making up a lot of ground in a short space of time. In the second race I got an average start when the clutch grabbed early on the line. I don’t know where the front guys got their pace from on the re-start, mid 34′s was a second faster than it was in the first race. Assen is next which is fast and flowing which will suit the bike better. We need to keep improving until we’re strong at every track.”
