James Toseland's first day at a familiar circuit brought almost instant results, as the 2008 MotoGP rookie took just four M1 laps of the Phillip Island racetrack to circulate within two seconds of the eventual end-of-day (race tyre) best, set by world champion Casey Stoner.

After a further 77 laps the Englishman, a former Phillip Island race winner in World Superbike, had charged to within 0.7secs of Stoner - placing him fifth overall at the end of day one, as he all-but-matched veteran team-mate Colin Edwards' (when also on race tyres) and overtook MotoGP race winner Chris Vermeulen into the daunting first turn.

"The first few laps I was able to hit the exact same six inches of track and I got up to speed much quicker than I did in Sepang and Jerez," said Toseland, speaking after day one of three. "It was nice to be at the sharp end of the times and I didn't realise but track knowledge is even more important with these bikes to help things come together.

"When you can hit the same spot lap after lap without thinking about it then you can really concentrate on the bike set-up and that makes a big difference to help gradually improve," explained the reigning double WSBK champion. "I've got a slight problem with entry to the fast corners. Just as I tip in I get a bit of chatter from the front. I'm losing quite a lot of time because of that problem because they are in such fast parts of the track. I could make up quite a lot of time if it wasn't for that.

"I'll try a new setting tomorrow morning to try and help before I do a race simulation. But it's nice to be doing decent lap times with a few problems. And I actually passed somebody on the brakes for the first time ever in MotoGP. I passed Chris Vermeulen going into the first corner turn which I was pretty proud of," he declared.

Edwards set the overall fastest Wednesday lap time while using a Michelin qualifying tyre.