James Toseland's dream of challenging for a
MotoGP podium on his British Grand Prix debut got off to a shaky start when his Catalunya test set-up proved problematic, but the Tech 3 Yamaha rider was able to get back on target and finish day one in eighth position.
Toseland's best lap time was one second from
Casey Stoner, but he was only half a second off second fastest rider
Nicky Hayden.
"The times are very close but unfortunately I found it difficult with the setting we had from the Catalunya test that I thought would work. I came away from that test with a lot of confidence but the settings don't work here," James explained.
"We tried to persevere with it but it was the wrong direction and at the end we made a change and it was night and day different. At least now we are moving the right way. I'm really comfortable doing low 29s but with the Catalunya setting I couldn't enter the corner. I didn't have the contact with the rear and that was losing me a lot of corner speed. Around this track you have to keep it fast and flowing and I couldn't keep my momentum up.
"I'm sure I can get it in the 28s and it looks like that will be the race pace so we have got to find a bit more. But with more time on the new setting I'm confident we can improve because we found it a bit too late to really dial it in. I'm pleased to be in the ballpark, but obviously not pleased with eighth but I don't think that is a reflection on where we could and should have been.
"It is quite a bit different riding at this track on an 800 that what I did last year in World Superbikes. I tried my old lines but they don't work! The speed is just so much faster and that determines the corner speed you carry. Using my old lines I couldn't square the corner off, so even though I know the track I have to learn and adjust."
Toseland will unveil a special one-off paint-scheme for his home race tomorrow, having given fans a glimpse today of what to expect with a St George's flag on the front and rear of his YZR-M1 machine.
