Brno MotoGP: James Toseland claims ‘lucky’ ninth

James Toseland admitted he was fortunate to claim a seventh top ten finish in 2009 in yesterday’s Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno.

The British rider ended the 22-lap race in ninth position after he was elevated into the top ten by Mika Kallio and Marco Melandri’s last corner tangle on the penultimate lap.

The 28-year-old had struggled in the opening half of the race with a chronic front-end handling issue that saw him running in 12th for the majority of the race.

He passed a fast fading Randy de Puniet for 11th on lap 16 and then profited from Kallio and Melandri’s heavy tumble on lap 21.

Toseland admitted the race had been a tough conclusion to a tough weekend in the Czech Republic and he said: “It has been a tough weekend and I’ll be the first to admit that I was a bit fortunate to get into the top ten.

“I rode as hard as I could every lap and never gave up but at the moment I’m struggling with a problem with the front for the first half of the race.

“The bike was virtually unrideable and I get a hopping sensation on the front and it really hurts my corner speed.

“We’ve been struggling with it for a while now but after half distance, how the feeling comes better is unbelievable.

“It’s almost like somebody is tweaking my bike while I’m riding because it improves so much. On lap 20 I did a 58.4, which is only one tenth off my qualifying time, so it shows how good the bike eventually feels.

“But I lose so much in the first half of the race. My pace in the second half of the race should be getting me in the top six.

“If we can solve this front-end issue then I know I can be running much higher up the field.”