MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland set for Jerez test

James Toseland will be back on track today (Tuesday) when the final MotoGP action of 2007 gets underway at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Following his promising Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 debut in Sepang earlier this month, the British rider will test for a further three days in Spain this week before the seven-week testing ban kicks in.

James Toseland will continue to ride Makoto Tamada’s 2007 spec YZR-M1, with the 27-year-old not due to ride Yamaha’s 2008 contender for the first time until January 22, 2008 back in Malaysia.

Looking ahead to the Jerez test, the double World Superbike champion told MCN: “I’ve just got to do laps. In Sepang I remember riding around and trying a few things, and some worked and some didn’t and that’s what it will be about in Jerez.

“Just riding around and doing the work and trying to find just exactly how you need to ride these bikes. I might need to follow a few people as well to see how they do that.”

At least the Jerez circuit won’t be completely alien for the former Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider, who had never seen Sepang before he arrived in the Far East.

Toseland tested at the Spanish circuit back in 1999 and added: “I have tested at Jerez so I know where it goes. I’m looking forward to going to a familiar track and being able to concentrate more on the bike feeling and the set-up and the riding.

“Even on the third day at Malaysia I didn’t really know what the bike was going to do and when it was going to do it, but this is normal. I have got to learn but in Malaysia I was around or just under a second off what the guys were doing race pace which was pleasing.

“If I was three seconds off the pace that would be another matter.”

James Toseland will continue to get support from new team-mate Colin Edwards, who proved an invaluable source of support and information in Sepang.

“I’ll be talking to Colin about a few problems if I need some advice and that’s the great thing about him. I have never heard any bulls**t from him as far as advice and he’ll tell me the truth.

“That is going to work very well between us because of that. It’s a massive learning curve but with a great team and a great team-mate you can learn a lot in a short space of time,” added Toseland.

MCN will be in Jerez this week, so check www.motorcyclenews.com for regular updates.