"I went to see Ten Kate and Honda three or four weeks after I was sacked and Roger, my manager, said 'they're offering this'. I said 'whatever it is, whatever they want, I'm putting a signature on a piece on paper today because this is my chance to get back into the game'," explained Toseland. "The Ten Kate team welcomed me with open arms and gave me the chance to be world champion again. The success we've had, finishing second last year and then going one better this year, is amazing."
Shortly after handing Ten Kate its first ever WSBK title, Toseland reflected on what has driven him to achieve such success.
"One thing I've always done is put 110% in, and with that you can't have any regrets - because I can't do any more. And doing everything is capable of being world champion. That's where I'm lucky, because a lot of people here put 110% in and for whatever reason they don't get the chance to achieve what I'm achieving," he said.
"I've been fortunate enough to work with some great people that have given me the chance, with my 110% and their 110%, to actually achieve everything. From 16 years old that's all I've done.
"I had some hard bereavement just before I was 16 and I was at a crossroads of being a bit of a tearaway or having something to focus and filter that anger and frustration out," he revealed. "Fortunately I found motorcycle racing and ever since that has fuelled me to become the best in the world at something. Without that I don't know if I would have been World Superbike champion, but that was how my life panned life.
"When I got my
MotoGP deal [for 2008], I sent a text to my mum and thanked her for lending me £15,000 to race when I was 16 years old. £15,000 was a bloody lot of money to us I tell you. She just sent back 'Never in my wildest dreams had I thought £15,000 would become World Superbike champion. I know this is your dream'. That's what it's all about," stated the 27-year-old.
