Toseland wants podium place

2008-06-20 11:08

England - British rider James Toseland is hoping to put his intimate knowledge of the Donington circuit to good use in this weekend's British motorcycling Grand Prix to land his first podium place.

The 27-year-old Sheffield-born rider, currently sitting a respectable sixth in the standings, is in his first season but knows the British circuit well from his days in the Superbike championship.

"I'm impatient for Donington. It's a circuit I know well and where I hope to win or at the very least get a place on the podium," Toseland said after the Catalunya GP earlier this month, in which he came in fifth.

Toseland, the only Brit on the MotoGP circuit this season, has had a good rookie season on a Yamaha with high finishes - including three sixth-place finishes at Qatar, Spain and Italy - but a podium place still eludes him.

However, it has been over 20 years since a Brit last gave the home crowd something to sing about at Donington - and that thought will not be far from the piano-playing Toseland's mind this weekend in this ninth leg of the 19-race world championship.

In 1987 Ian McConnachie crossed the line in second during a 80cc race, with 500cc riders Niall Mackenzie and Jeremy McWilliams placing third in 1993 and 2000 respectively.

Charismatic

And it seems the bookmakers agree with the history books, placing championship leader Valentino Rossi as the clear favourite for Sunday's race, with Honda's Dani Pedrosa also highly fancied after his victory in the Catalunya GP.

"I like this circuit because I have a lot of great memories from here," the charismatic Italian said.

"The podium here is always a great emotion because of the crowd, so I want to be back on there this year."

Pedrosa put on a first-class display in Barcelona, maintaining a strong lead over second-placed Rossi and Australia's reigning world champion Casey Stoner, to remain seven points behind the Italian in the championship.

"Normally on this track things can be good or bad for me, so I hope this time it is good," Pedrosa said on Thursday.

Fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo - who had to watch events in Barcelona from a hospital bed after a crash in Italy - will be looking to consolidate his third place in the championship, with Stoner breathing down his neck in fourth.

But the Donington course is not favoured by the Australian.

"The circuit and I have never really got along that well although I have always been reasonably fast here," Stoner said. "I don't enjoy it that much but there are a couple of corners I like."

Yet it is in the 125cc class that the Donington crowd might have their best chance to unfurl the flags, with English riders Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb all aiming to get on the podium.

Standing in their way is championship leader Mike Di Meglio, who will be looking for his third victory this season.

- AFP