When Bike Swaps Go Bad. No 2: James Toseland

2007 Honda CBR1000RR to 2008 Yamaha M1

he funny thing about James Toseland’s career-crunching move from World Superbikes to MotoGP is how well it started. He won his second SBK title in 2007, jumped off his ’Blade and on to an M1, and went quick. Front-row start for his first GP, battled with Rossi in the race over fifth, and missed it by less than a second; and earned that badge of honour over the next races when established riders criticise your style because you’re too good at overtaking them.

Progress levelled out at unfamiliar tracks, but there was every reason to expect year two to be even better. 

It wasn’t. James grew increasingly glum as his results got worse, and it was soon obvious that the adventure was over. What went wrong? Two things: tyres and torment.

The first year was on tailor-made Michelins; the second on the new and very different control Bridgestones. Many riders found them hard to learn, James paid the highest price, with two truly crunching crashes in pre-season testing that really shook his confidence. 

Missing out on full tests also put him behind the rest; new shorter practice sessions meant he never caught up. “That winter was one of the most crucial because of the change of tyres: it was vital to get time on the bike.

“It’s such a fine line between having a really good weekend and a really bad one. The difference between fourth and 14th is so narrow,” he told me during the year.

Wide enough for the unfortunate Briton to fall into it.

Words Michael Scott  Photos 2Snap, Gold and Goose