Toseland tipped to shine by team boss
Added on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Toseland tipped to shine by team boss
Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal believes that James Toseland can make an impression in MotoGP in 2009 after completing his rookie season.
Toseland, the only British representative in the Grand Prix paddock, enjoyed mixed fortunes in his debut season in MotoGP, with a series of positive results in both qualifying and races spoiled by a number of reliability issues and poor performances towards the end of the season.
Having started in blistering fashion in Qatar back in round one, securing a second place start on the grid and a sixth place finish, the Doncaster-born rider went on to record strong results in Jerez and Estoril to demonstrate his potential.
After a 12th in China, Toseland went on to record two more sixth place finishes in Italy and Barcelona before disaster struck on a rain-soaked Donington.
Looking to be the first Brit to win a home Grand Prix for 27 years, Toseland slid off at the first corner before eventually limping home in 17th position.
Toseland, as well as teammate Colin Edwards, then suffered mixed fortunes with reliability and bike performance for much of the season’s remainder but Poncharal is confident that those problems can be ironed out and that Toseland’s rookie experience will hold him in good stead.
“Next year for sure it will be a lot easier for James. He knows the team and the tracks now,” the Frenchman told MotoGP.com.
“We will have closer and better competition next year with the tyre situation, things like there being no qualifiers, and hopefully James can take advantage of that.”
Toseland last year competed on eight circuits that were familiar from his WSB days, recording three sixths, one ninth, an 11th, 13th, 17th and one DNF.
Speaking on the season overall, in which the team claimed two podiums courtesy of Edwards, Poncharal was pleased to finish behind the so-called “big three”.
“Two podiums -one in France at our home race- and a pole position in China are things that will stick in the memory,” he said. “I believe that it has been a good season, coming from a difficult 2007. From that to finishing fourth in the team standings, ahead of two factory teams is a good result, although like everybody we had our ups and downs.”
