Toseland: It's a podium bike.

I hope JT can improve on the impressive showings from the first two races. I knew he was good after watching him in WSBK but it has surprised me how well he's taken to MotoGP so far, especially given that other WSBK riders have never done all that well in MotoGP. Go on James!!

6th again...

Bring it on - I can't wait. I've got two words for the people like Vermeulen and Stoner who are voicing their opinion about James' overtaking - "toughen up!"

If you really want to be rough back to James then I can only see James staying upright and the kids falling off!

i've not seen stoner commenting on his overtaking, but i know vermeulen was complaining about his moves, while dovi and capirossi said it was hard but fair. i'd give the lad a break, he was up to his eyes on antibiotics. maybe chris is just peeved about his lack of world superbike titles?

i can only see him and edwards improving race by race with the pneumatic valved-engine, especially as edwards seems to be relieved he's still got a ride this season and it's with his old bud james! either way, they're neck and neck with dovi's team for satellite performers of the top-flight GP class, pushing team green and suzuki so far...

While Vermeulen strikes me as a good rider and an enjoyable personality, it seems that he's approaching that point in his career where he needs consistently better results or he'll be on a downward arc. Last year's win at LeMans aside, of course.

Vermeulen came from WSBK, so he ought not be surprised about JT's tough passes. And it's not like JT's picking only on him.

Superbikeplanet.com had a podcast with Ronald Ten Kate last season where they asked him to rate both JT and Chris V. Ten Kate tabbed JT as the more talented rider.

I'm glad to see him and Colin getting the pneumatic motor. The more riders competing for the podium, the better.

all i can say is tough as a nut on track brilliant personality off track multi talented performer oh and go go go jt

Vermeulen claimed JT's pass at Jerez knocked him offline and ripped his leathers. I don't think Vermeulen is a complainer but any of the riders would have been a bit miffed in the same situation.

Vermeulen is probably upset at being beaten from the outset by JT on a non factory bike. Chris hasn't been able to match his team mate at Suzuki (both of them) since he came to GPs in anything but wet weather. Both JT and Capirossi will outscore him this year. JT has looked good and aggressive right from the word go, and can only get smoother and faster as the year progresses. Bunt him off again JT!

Chris should pull him aside and teach him a few manners.Couple of elbows..

floot that would be even more stupid than your comment

Surprised..not.Last in free practice with Edwards just ahead.

Hey mattik, they've a new engine and systems to bed in- or havn't you heard...
Just wait til sunday!

chris v should be thankful to JT - what chris needs is a good akick in the butt so he wakes the f up - great talent, but "comfortably numb" in mgp. seems guy s running a bit low on motivation. if loris beats him clearly this year, i see no reason for suzuki to keep him

You never, EVER win the race in the first practise. Your position is governed by the order you finish the line in the race.

i think jt is doing a brilliant job and with edwards experience to tap into he will do well.a few years ago tose tried the honda gp bike of the time and impressed honda bigwigs back then.the man has a huge talent and a big heart also vermulen should be using more energy in riding instead of moaning and they say that the brits moan a lot.him and stoner to good ones together

No one's talkin about the newly improved M1?
It's lying 2nd in top speed charts.....
Ducati, yamaha, Ducati, yamaha.... goes the top speed order....
Good work, folks...

Anyway, Toseland just rocked with that daring passing move.....
He just made Chris a mere spectator....
The way he mader them make way for him was just too good...
Go, Toseland... this is the way to go....
Tosey himself has admitted that he needs time to get accustomed to the MotoGP riders' line.... as he was used to seeing only SBK-ers lines....
fair enough.....

chris v should stop moaning and get on with the job he's getting paid to do, i expected better things from him when he moved over from sbk's, but this year he seems to have pinned all his hopes on getting that no7 plate and nothing else. at this moment in time i dont think he's good enough to have his but sat on a suzuki with no7 plate on it.

if he thought that pass was harsh he should go back to sbk's to toughen up again, if he's gonna be that slow round the corners he should expect to get roughed up a little, especially by the guys with slower bikes down the straight.

i like jt's confidence, he thinks he can get on the podium this week, SO DO I.

He's very honest that he has now been handed a podium capable bike and its up to him to use it. I just hope his words don't come back to haunt him.

Listen to what the riders are actually saying - Estoril is one of the weirder tracks and unlike most (all?) the other riders its not a circuit James has raced at before.

Plus the weather's making it hard to find setups and he has no baseline data.

If he get's 6th this time it'll be an astonishing testimony to his skill.
I reckon he's more likely to testify to his determination by binning it.
I hope he has the wisdom to pick up a modest handful of points here and blow 'em away in China.

The only blowing away this pretender will be doing is the flies hanging around with the amount of rubbish being spoken.