James Huge Highside at Jerez Test

MotoGP: James Toseland Suffers Huge Highside at Jerez Test



James Toseland

Sunday’s 45-minute ‘qualifying’ session at Jerez has been red-flagged after James Toseland’s suffered a huge highside with 16 minutes to go.
The Englishman, who has been fighting to make up for lost track time after suffering the ‘biggest accident of his career’ during the first day of 2009 testing at Sepang in February, suffered a fall of similar magnitude at Jerez.
The double World Superbike champion lost the rear of his M1 on the exit of a high-speed left hander, and was then thrown high in the air when the rear-rubber gripped.
After a hard hit to his upper body, Toseland was sent tumbling roughly through the gravel before coming to rest with parts of his broken Monster Tech 3 Yamaha lying around him.
Toseland was later placed carefully on a stretcher by marshals and carried away from the track.
Ducati’s Casey Stoner has dominated the session so far, but with Valentino Rossi closing to within a few tenths.
UPDATE: Initial medical reports state that Toseland has suffered heavy bruising but is ‘ok’.
Source | Crash.net

MotoGP: James Toseland Suffers Broken Foot after Jerez Highside


James Toseland has confirmed to MCN that he suffered a broken fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during yesterday’s massive high-side crash in Jerez.
The British rider also has a badly sprained right ankle and multiple bruising after he crashed heavily during the televised BMW shootout in Jerez.
None of the injuries though will force the double World Superbike champion to miss the season’s opening MotoGP clash in Qatar on April 12.
The 28-year-old also revealed that he didn’t aggravate a lingering right elbow injury that he first picked up during a 125mph high-side in Sepang back in early February.
Toseland, who needed precautionary scans on his head at a hospital in Cadiz after suffering concussion in the high-speed tumble, spoke to MCN shortly before he boarded a plane home from Madrid this morning.
“I’m feeling pretty beaten up but not too bad considering. The bone in my foot isn’t a big problem and I’m quite badly bruised in a few places,“ he said.
Toseland caught a domestic flight from Jerez to Madrid last night and he said: “I had a pretty good night after a long soak in the bath. I’d been put on a drip in the hospital and I had some painkillers and that sorted me out.
“I don’t think I need any further checks when I’m home. They did a scan and everything was clear and they took about six X-rays on my body because the bruising was quite bad. But nothing is broken apart from the little toe on my foot.”
Toseland confirmed the crash was caused by a lack of temperature in his soft compound rear Bridgestone tyre. He added: “It was a big mistake on my part and I apologised immediately to Yamaha and the team.”
Source | Crash.net

James Toseland reassures fans


James Toseland today issued a heartfelt thank you to all of the fans who have continued to support him throughout a difficult 2009 testing period with the new Monster Tech 3 Yamaha.

The British rider sustained a sprained ankle during a massive high side at Jerez in Spain yesterday, but remains determined to enjoy a positive start to this season's campaign at the first race in Qatar on 12 April.

"There's no doubt that the recent testing programme has been tough," said the MotoGP contender "and I'm still working hard to understand the limit of the new tyres. However, I have been extremely lucky to escape serious injury at both Sepang and Jerez. For that reason, I must thank my leathers company BKS because it is down to them that I'll be lining up on the grid for the first race of the season in Qatar.

"As we all know, the race is where results really count and I am completely focused on achieving success in my second year in MotoGP. I'm extremely lucky to have such a loyal fan base and I want to succeed for you as much as for myself. So, thank you for all of the support that I've received so far. I appreciate it and am working hard to prove myself at the top tier of motorcycling.

"The recent success of British contenders in F1 has been inspiring and I hope to be as strong an ambassador for England in MotoGP."