The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider had held a 66 point advantage after an emotional first double victory, in front of his home fans at
Brands Hatch, with just three rounds to go.
However, a cracked swingarm in Germany, a race two fall at Vallelunga and then a first turn clash in Sunday's title showdown cranked raised the tension to near 2004 levels - when Toseland overturned Ducati team-mate
Regis Laconi's world championship lead to clinch his first WSBK crown.
"This second title is just as special as the first because of how close it was at the end," reflected James on Sunday evening. "I had a 66 point lead after Brands and there was half a thought of 'I've got it'. It was nowhere near easy, but it was comfortable and winning something comfortably never has the same effect as battling for it.
"You couldn't get any worse than 2004 though. Coming to France, against your French team-mate [Laconi]. You're walking around the garage with him all weekend, and just five points behind. To clinch the title then, and my first title as well, was just amazing.
"But then look at the way it's gone this year. Every point was important. The middle of my tyre came out at Monza and I was weaving along the straight, but I kept going and took fourth after my team-mate ran out of fuel. So you could say that without that I wouldn't have been champion.
"But I got back on after falling at
Silverstone and did a 50 minute race with a broken handlebar and no water in the engine. I crashed at Vallelunga because I was pushing too hard and finished with a damaged gear lever and the clutch lever gone. Then I clipped Lanzi in the first corner here - I've seen anyone fly so high in my life - and had to come from last place to seventh, which then gave me the opportunity to only have to finish in the top eight [in race two] to win this championship.
"When you've got Bayliss, Haga, Corser and Biaggi, every little thing you do is important because those guys are always going to be there. You've got to get the points.
"It's been a fight, but because of the fight this championship means every bit as much as in 2004," he concluded.
Toseland will move to
MotoGP next season, riding alongside
Colin Edwards at Yamaha Tech 3.
