British MotoGP: Fuel mix-up costs James Toseland

Confusion over the amount of fuel James Toseland’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine was carrying cost the British rider a chance to claim a morale-boosting top six finish in today’s weather-hit opening practice session.

Just as track conditions reached their best in the final three minutes after heavy early rain had soaked the Leicestershire circuit, Toseland’s YZR-M1 ran out of fuel, leaving him stranded on the back of the track.

Trying to gain crucial information in mixed conditions as the track dried rapidly in fast changing weather, Toseland opted to stay out for a long stint on his YZR-M1.

But he opted to pit after 29 laps, only to be informed by his Tech 3 team to continue, believing the bike had been fuelled enough for 35 laps.

Toseland simply rode through the pits and back onto the track, only to run out of fuel on his 33rd lap.

It was only after Toseland stopped on the circuit that the team realised the bike had only been fuelled for 31 laps. The mix-up took the gloss of an otherwise brilliant session for the 28-year-old, who had been in superb form in mixed conditions.

Just 25 minutes remained when the double World Superbike champion was lying in third place, outpacing reigning world champion and Donington specialist Valentino Rossi.

He was easily running in the top six until the final stages when he slipped down the rankings to 12th with a best time of 1.40.522.

The Yorkshireman said: “I didn’t have much feeling with the bike when it was full wet but it just kept drying out and I knew the bike set-up would suit the conditions better when it was drying up.

“So I didn’t think there was any point in coming if the track conditions were going to get better and I decided to stay out. I did a lot of laps in the mixed conditions in Germany last weekend and that really helped me out a lot today.

“I just kept improving and improving but unfortunately because I stayed out for the session I ran out of fuel right at the time when the track conditions were the best they had been for the whole hour.

“That’s a shame because I slipped down the order a little bit but I’m happy because most of that session I was right in the mix in the top six and it was pretty encouraging.

“This weekend is very important for me and as always I put my maximum effort into that session to start the weekend off on a positive note and I think I’ve done that.

“I’ve got unbelievable support here already and that makes me determined to get a good result on Sunday.”

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