Post race analysis by the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team revealed that the problem was caused by a cracked swing arm. The symptoms materialised as chatter which got progressively worse as the crack got worse. The cause appeared to be tyres as the team ran the same tyre in warm-up as in the race but were considerably off the pace.
However, as Toseland told
Crash.net Radio the cause was much more obscure, “When I crashed in Superpole in Germany I cracked my swinging arm and we didn't notice it. That is what the problem was in the races. We didn't notice it until the Monday after the weekend, so I was a bit annoyed by that.”
With that put firmly behind him, he is confident that they can wrap up the Championship this weekend at Vallelunga. The weekend has started out well with a good first free practice and qualifying. “Pretty good so far, we've been consistent on race tyres which has been good. On lap 16 I was still doing low 38s which is pretty strong. We have a few things to try with gearing and set-up to improve that one quick lap on a good tyre once we get that sorted out we are in a really strong position,” he explained.
Vallelunga is a new circuit on the World Superbike calendar so it is a bit of an unknown quantity for the paddock as a whole. For Toseland it is a learning curve every time he is on track, “Its ok, it is a new track so you are finding little things out every time you go round. At this point in the championship when you are so close to winning you'd like everything to be familiar so that you can just get on with it. There is a little bit more to learn here than there is at tracks that you know obviously,” he said.
