Toseland’s Portimao test delayed by mudslides

The BMW Motorrad Italia team of James Toseland and Aryton Badovini have been forced to sit out of their scheduled test at Portimao this morning after a heavy storm caused mudslides at the Portuguese circuit.

Toseland and Badovini were due to get their first ride on the BMW S1000RR’s which their Italian team only finished building last week.

Toseland got his first test onboard the BMW Motorrad test team bike at the Portimao circuit last week but is yet to ride the BMW in dry conditions after last weeks test was hit by persistent rain showers.

Speaking to MCN this morning, Toseland said: “It was a big storm and it’s left a lot of mud on the track.

“They are working to clean it up now and are expecting that the track will open at around 1pm. The good news is that the weather forecast is ok for the rest of the day and tomorrow.”

“After last weeks test I really need some dry track time. I’ve just seen my bikes for the first time and they look great.

“They look really well built which is what I expected because they’ve been put together by the same guys I worked with when I rode for the factory Ducati team in 2004 and 2005.”