Toseland thus finished his first
MotoGP race in a strong sixth - one place ahead of team-mate
Colin Edwards, less than a second behind Rossi and having set the fifth fastest lap of the race.
"I'm a bit emotionally drained to be fair but what you learn in 22 laps around these guys is priceless and I can't wait for
Jerez," said the #52. "To start off with this result is just great for me. I've realised now that with everybody's support, which I'm getting from the Tech 3 team, Yamaha and Michelin, it is possible to be competitive. To finish just behind Valentino in my very first MotoGP race is surreal."
Team manager Herve Poncharal was delighted with the debut performance of his new team line-up.
"It was a great way to start the championship," said the Frenchman. "The highlight of the weekend was our two riders on the front row which was a very emotional moment and something you dream of to start the championship. It didn't happen to us since 2002 with Olivier Jacque and
Shinya Nakano at the Sachsenring.
"We had great expectations but we knew it would be difficult to get on the rostrum. James showed an incredible fighting spirit and he made a made really aggressive move on Jorge. The whole race he was losing a bit in some parts and catching back to Valentino and he ended up very, very close to beating him. Colin had a great and steady race also and I'd have settled for sixth and seventh before the first race."
Poncharal also confirmed that, as previously reported on
Crash.net, his team will get the more powerful pneumatic-valve M1 engines by round three, at Estoril.
"We know the new engine is coming in Estoril and it won't be such a handicap in Jerez [next time out] on a track without a long straight. Michelin showed great potential and we look forward with a lot of confidence to Jerez," he concluded.
