Daily Update MotoGP

The Tech 3 Yamaha team expects James Toseland to be fit to race in the MotoGP season-opener at Losail on 12 April despite his second massive accident of the winter at Jerez today.

The Briton was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after a violent high-side at Turn 3 during the BMW Award qualifying simulation. He was judged to have escaped with concussion, and returned to the paddock this evening.

The accident came just under two months after a similar crash at Sepang, which had also left him struggling with concussion. Toseland had been off the pace at subsequent tests, but was getting back up to speed at Jerez prior to today's incident.

Team boss Herve Poncharal was disappointed that the crash had interrupted Toseland's recovery, but is confident he will be on the pace in Qatar in a fortnight.

"I am obviously delighted that James is going to be fit for the first race after another big crash today," said Poncharal.

"It is a real pity for him because he was really looking like his old self this weekend after the crash in Sepang and making some big progress with the bike and the tyres. I'm sure he will be ready and determined to give 100 per cent again in Qatar."

While Toseland has had an incident-packed winter, his team-mate Colin Edwards has shown promising pace, although he was only 10th in today's qualifying session.

"I started the timed session and I knew I could do a low 1m40s but to do a 1m39s I just didn't have the right set-up," Edwards explained. "When I saw Casey (Stoner) do a 39.1 on only his third lap, I knew my package wasn't ready to do that and I'm not going to take any risks with the first race so close.

"I'm happy with the way the winter has gone. Yamaha has done a great job and at every test we have been competitive."
ref:[AS]
Read More......