26.10.09Frustration for Toseland in Sepang

PBRA-supported MotoGP star James Toseland endured a difficult weekend in changeable weather conditions in Malaysia. Qualifying in 16th position after struggling for rear grip, the double World Superbike champion faced an uphill struggle in the penultimate race of the season.

Toseland worked tirelessly to try and improve edge grip on his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine as track temperatures hit 51 degrees during qualifying. Despite his best efforts, the 28-year-old couldn't find a comfortable setting in the extreme heat and humidity, and with a quickest time of 2.03.528 set on his final lap of the session.

To add to the challenge that Toseland already faced, a torrential downpour saturated the 5.548km circuit just 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the 21-lap race.The deluge forced Race Direction to delay the start for 40 minutes.

As the race got underway, Toseland also ran into front-end grip problems but fought hard in tricky conditions to claim a single point.

James Toseland 14th 88-points
I wasn't too sorry when I saw the rain to be honest because it had been a tough weekend in the dry. We went with the base wet setting but I had the same problem in the rain that I did in the dry. I just didn't have any grip on the rear and in the wet the problem was on corner entry to the apex. So my corner speed was just way too slow to make a decent lap time. I am not out there just riding around at the back. I was doing my absolute best and trying my hardest but it was impossible for me to go any faster with the feeling I had. It has been a tough weekend but I'll look to bounce back and finish stron gly in Valencia for my guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3."