GixerGaz
26-03-2007, 16:23
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8696&stc=1&d=1174922628
James Toseland has spoken about his dream start to the 2007 World Superbike Championship, and with his home round of Donington Park next up this weekend, he clearly has no intention of waking up just yet.
The 2004 WSBK Champion and last year's runner-up has registered a victory and a second place in each of the opening two rounds of the new campaign in Qatar and Australia, despite a field that is arguably the strongest in the series' history, with former MotoGP front-runners Max Biaggi and Troy Bayliss among those to have been forced to eat the Sheffield ace's dust so far.
“I knew I was going to be there or thereabouts,” he told Crash.net. “You can never underestimate Max Biaggi and the status he brings to the championship, though – the publicity has just gone up and up since he joined the series. Then there's Troy Bayliss, who did what he did in Valencia at the end of last year in front of all those people in MotoGP – beating guys like Nicky Hayden, Loris Capirossi and Valentino Rossi was awesome. The standard of the championship in World Superbikes this year is absolutely incredible, with at least six riders who can win races.
“You can never rule out (Noriyuki) Haga either – he's always biting at your heels. Troy Corser is a fantastic rider as well, a two-time world champion. Bayliss' team-mate (Lorenzo) Lanzi is getting quicker and quicker. All the manufacturers are on the pace too. In the second race in Australia I won on a Honda, Bayliss was second on a Ducati, Haga third on a Yamaha, then Biaggi on a Suzuki. All the riders and manufacturers are up there, which is great for the championship.”
That being the case, it only serves to highlight the impressive nature of Toseland's achievements, and he is well aware of the effect it will have on his reputation should he continue to perform this well for the remainder of the
“I had a chance to go to MotoGP,” he admitted, “but it wasn't with the right package. I feel like I'm riding better now; my whole mental attitude and everything else is getting better too. I'm really enjoying riding in World Superbikes. Obviously my aim is to get into MotoGP, and hopefully in the near future, but it's certainly not doing me any harm for now being in World Superbikes and racing against these guys.”
Now approaching the first of three British rounds of the season at Donington Park, the 26-year-old said he was heading into the round riding the crest of the wave, and was determined to stamp his authority on proceedings on home turf. It is a circuit that has not played host to World Superbikes since 2001, and one that holds happy memories for the Ten Kate Honda star.
“I had a decent result back then,” he reminisced. “It was my first year in World Superbikes and I was coming back from a really bad thigh injury. I had broken my femur in three places but I think I finished sixth or seventh, which I remember being really pleased about.
“Bayliss and Biaggi are going to have a little bit more experience around there from their MotoGP days but I know my way round too, and with the confidence I've now got from the first two rounds I can't wait to go there. To be a British guy leading the championship going into Donington Park is just great. I've had some fantastic support over the past few years, and I really hope I can win in front of my home crowd.
“If I can finish second and first every time like I've done so far for the whole season I will be lifting the trophy quite early. I don't drink throughout the season, but if I can wrap it up before my birthday on 5 October I will definitely be having a few drinks before the last race.”
James Toseland has spoken about his dream start to the 2007 World Superbike Championship, and with his home round of Donington Park next up this weekend, he clearly has no intention of waking up just yet.
The 2004 WSBK Champion and last year's runner-up has registered a victory and a second place in each of the opening two rounds of the new campaign in Qatar and Australia, despite a field that is arguably the strongest in the series' history, with former MotoGP front-runners Max Biaggi and Troy Bayliss among those to have been forced to eat the Sheffield ace's dust so far.
“I knew I was going to be there or thereabouts,” he told Crash.net. “You can never underestimate Max Biaggi and the status he brings to the championship, though – the publicity has just gone up and up since he joined the series. Then there's Troy Bayliss, who did what he did in Valencia at the end of last year in front of all those people in MotoGP – beating guys like Nicky Hayden, Loris Capirossi and Valentino Rossi was awesome. The standard of the championship in World Superbikes this year is absolutely incredible, with at least six riders who can win races.
“You can never rule out (Noriyuki) Haga either – he's always biting at your heels. Troy Corser is a fantastic rider as well, a two-time world champion. Bayliss' team-mate (Lorenzo) Lanzi is getting quicker and quicker. All the manufacturers are on the pace too. In the second race in Australia I won on a Honda, Bayliss was second on a Ducati, Haga third on a Yamaha, then Biaggi on a Suzuki. All the riders and manufacturers are up there, which is great for the championship.”
That being the case, it only serves to highlight the impressive nature of Toseland's achievements, and he is well aware of the effect it will have on his reputation should he continue to perform this well for the remainder of the
“I had a chance to go to MotoGP,” he admitted, “but it wasn't with the right package. I feel like I'm riding better now; my whole mental attitude and everything else is getting better too. I'm really enjoying riding in World Superbikes. Obviously my aim is to get into MotoGP, and hopefully in the near future, but it's certainly not doing me any harm for now being in World Superbikes and racing against these guys.”
Now approaching the first of three British rounds of the season at Donington Park, the 26-year-old said he was heading into the round riding the crest of the wave, and was determined to stamp his authority on proceedings on home turf. It is a circuit that has not played host to World Superbikes since 2001, and one that holds happy memories for the Ten Kate Honda star.
“I had a decent result back then,” he reminisced. “It was my first year in World Superbikes and I was coming back from a really bad thigh injury. I had broken my femur in three places but I think I finished sixth or seventh, which I remember being really pleased about.
“Bayliss and Biaggi are going to have a little bit more experience around there from their MotoGP days but I know my way round too, and with the confidence I've now got from the first two rounds I can't wait to go there. To be a British guy leading the championship going into Donington Park is just great. I've had some fantastic support over the past few years, and I really hope I can win in front of my home crowd.
“If I can finish second and first every time like I've done so far for the whole season I will be lifting the trophy quite early. I don't drink throughout the season, but if I can wrap it up before my birthday on 5 October I will definitely be having a few drinks before the last race.”