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James Toseland (born 5 October, 1980 in Kiveton Park, Rotherham, South Yorkshire),^[1] is an English motorcycle racer. Toseland is the reigning 2007 World Superbike Champion on a Ten Kate Honda,^[2] who also won the 2004 Superbike World Championship on a Ducati. As well as being a motorcyclist, Toseland is also a good pianist and singer, who performs regularly with his band "Crash".

Biography

Born in Sheffield, his parents separated and James was raised by his mother.^[1] After his mother started a relationship with Ken, James accepted him as his default father figure, and started taking up on Ken's interests: James started taking piano lessons aged eight, taught by a professional pianist; while he also started riding Motocross bikes on the coal slag heaps close to his home.^[1]

While his mother struggled with income, Ken and James would attend Junior Trials and Motocross events across the UK. After his mothers relationship with Ken started breaking down in his early teens, James chose to support his mother and ended his relationship with Ken after he broke up with his mother - Ken later committed suicide.^[1] Toseland kept up his piano lessons achieving Grade6 - not enough for him to gain a place at the London College of Music.^[1]

Motorcycle racing career

Transferring his motorcycle career from off-road to road racing after the death of Ken, Toseland quickly worked his way up through the ranks from 125cc racing in the UK Superteen series, and sprang to prominence in the late nineties when he dominated the Honda CB500 cup series as a 17 year old. He was picked up to ride a Supersport Honda and won races at national level. As a result he was signed to the factory Honda World Supersport squad where he rode for two years with mixed results and a number of injuries.

He joined the British Superbikes series in 2000, riding for Paul Bird's Vimto-sponsored team and getting good results on a Honda VTR.

World Superbikes

In 2001 aged 20, Toseland joined the GSE team to partner Neil Hodgson in World Superbikes. Having never taken a top 5 finish in either British Superbikes or World Supersport, he was not initially as competitive as Hodgson. But by late 2002 he was challenging for top 5 results in World Superbike and took 7th place overall that year. In 2003 the team was more competitive than ever, allowing James to take his first win at Oschersleben and 3rd in the championship.

In 2004 Toseland joined the factory Ducati team as second rider to the experienced Regis Laconi, and piped Laconi and Chris Vermeulen to the title at the final meeting of the season. 2005 proved to be more of a struggle for Toseland, with a lack of team support as well as the returning Suzuki and Yamaha teams,^[1] and the improving Honda camp of five riders including Chris Vermeulen and Pierfrancesco Chili. This combination of factors ended the domination of Ducati, and Troy Corser took the championship on a Suzuki, with Toseland finishing 5th.

For 2006 Toseland switched to the Winston Ten Kate Honda racing team, replacing the MotoGP-bound Chris Vermeulen, where he rode alongside Australian Karl Muggeridge. He won the season-opener in Qatar, and finished 2nd in the championship behind Troy Bayliss. He was contacted to replaced injured Toni Elías for the Fortuna Honda team for a one-off appearance in MotoGP, but this didn't happen for sponsor-related reasons.

Toseland was linked to the D'antin Ducati satellite team in MotoGP in 2006, and received an offer to ride for them in 2007. D'antin have not performed well in recent years however, and Toseland turned the offer down, not willing to make up the grid on a bike that wasn't competitive.

2007 season

Toseland remains in WSBK for the 2007 season with Ten Kate Honda, despite a firm offer from the D'Antin team to race in MotoGP. Toseland posted a first/second combination at the first meeting in Qatar ^[3], and at Philip Island.^[4] He won one race in each of the first five meetings of the year. At Assen he almost took a pair of wins but he was passed by Bayliss, losing by 0.009 seconds. Toseland won his first ever World Superbike double at Brands Hatch on August 5th giving him a 66 point lead in the championship. In the final race at Magny-Cours, he claimed the 2007 World Superbike title with a pole position, seventh position in Race1, and a sixth place in Race2, to leave him 2points ahead of Japan's Noriyuki Haga.^[2]

Move to MotoGP in 2008

Toseland was again linked with the D'antin Ducati MotoGP team, although rumours had also abounded of a ride with a Honda outfit, and even of Ten Kate making the step up to the premier class and taking Toseland with them. But eventually Toseland confirmed a move to MotoGP for 2008 on 1 August 2007 when he announced that he had signed a one-year contract with factory supported Yamaha team Tech3.^[5]

As of 1 August 2007, the full package for Yamaha Tech3 for 2008 has yet to be announced although it is strongly rumoured to be receiving extensive support from Yamaha and switching away from under performing Dunlop tyres. It is rumoured that Toseland's teamate for 2008 will be Colin Edwards.^[6].

Career Stats

Stats accurate as of 6 October 2007

Year		Poles	Races	Podiums	Wins	2nd place	3rd place	Titles
All Times	Superbike	4	166	57	16	24	17	1
All Times	Supersport	0	17	0	0	0	0	0
Year		Poles	Races	Podiums	Wins	2nd place	3rd place	Position
2007	Superbike	2	23	14	8	5	1	1st
2006	Superbike	1	24	12	3	5	4	2nd
2005	Superbike		23	7	1	2	4	4th
2004	Superbike		22	14	3	9	2	1st
2003	Superbike	1	24	9	1	3	5	3rd
2002	Superbike		26	1			1	7th
2001	Superbike		24					13th

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f James Toseland with Ted Macaulay James Toseland: The Autobiography Published by Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-1103-7
^ ^a ^b Toseland claims Superbikes title BBC Sport - 7 October, 2007
^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6383457.stm
^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6410673.stm
^ http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61255
^ Daily Telegraph Issue No:47,326 2 August 2007

External links

Preceded by Neil Hodgson	World Superbike Champion 2004	Succeeded by Troy Corser
Preceded by Troy Bayliss	World Superbike Champion 2007	Succeeded by incumbent

[biog-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f James Toseland with Ted Macaulay James Toseland: The Autobiography Published by Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-1103-7

[BBC1-2] Toseland claims Superbikes title BBC Sport - 7 October, 2007

[3] ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6383457.stm

[4] ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6410673.stm

[5] ttp://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61255

[6] Daily Telegraph Issue No:47,326 2 August 2007

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[2]

[3]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''James Toseland''' (born [[5 October]], [[1980]] in [[Kiveton Park]], [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]]), is an [[England|English]] [[motorcycle]] racer. Toseland is the reigning [[Superbike World Championship|2007 World Superbike Champion]] on a [[Honda|Ten Kate Honda]],<ref name="BBC1">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7032682.stm Toseland claims Superbikes title] BBC Sport - 7 October, 2007</ref> who also won the [[2004]] [[Superbike World Championship]] on a [[Ducati Motor Holding|Ducati]]. As well as being a motorcyclist, Toseland is also a good [[pianist]] and [[singer]], who performs regularly with his band "Crash".
+'''James Toseland''' (born [[5 October]], [[1980]] in [[Kiveton Park]], [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]]),<ref name="biog">James Toseland with Ted Macaulay [http://www.superbike-news.co.uk/Feature/Books/JamesToselandAutobiography.htm James Toseland: The Autobiography]  Published by Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-1103-7</ref> is an [[England|English]] [[motorcycle]] racer. Toseland is the reigning [[Superbike World Championship|2007 World Superbike Champion]] on a [[Honda|Ten Kate Honda]],<ref name="BBC1">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7032682.stm Toseland claims Superbikes title] BBC Sport - 7 October, 2007</ref> who also won the [[2004]] [[Superbike World Championship]] on a [[Ducati Motor Holding|Ducati]]. As well as being a motorcyclist, Toseland is also a good [[pianist]] and [[singer]], who performs regularly with his band "Crash".
-==Career==
+==Biography==
+Born in Sheffield, his parents separated and James was raised by his mother.<ref name="biog"/> After his mother started a relationship with Ken, James accepted him as his default father figure, and started taking up on Ken's interests: James started taking piano lessons aged eight, taught by a professional pianist; while he also started riding Motocross bikes on the coal slag heaps close to his home.<ref name="biog"/>
-Toseland started his career in the UK in the Superteen series but sprang to prominence in the late nineties when he dominated the [[Honda CB500]] cup series as a 17 year old. He was picked up to ride a Supersport Honda and won races at national level. As a result he was signed to the factory [[World Supersport|Honda World Supersport]] squad where he rode for two years with mixed results and a number of injuries.
+While his mother struggled with income, Ken and James would attend Junior Trials and Motocross events across the UK. After his mothers relationship with Ken started breaking down in his early teens, James chose to support his mother and ended his relationship with Ken after he broke up with his mother - Ken later committed [[suicide]].<ref name="biog"/> Toseland kept up his piano lessons achieving Grade6 - not enough for him to gain a place at the [[London College of Music]].<ref name="biog"/>
-He joined the [[Superbike racing|British Superbikes]] series in [[2000]], riding for [[Paul Bird]]'s [[Vimto]]-sponsored team and getting good results on a [[Honda]] VTR.
+===Motorcycle racing career===
+Transferring his motorcycle career from off-road to road racing after the death of Ken, Toseland quickly worked his way up through the ranks from 125cc racing in the UK Superteen series, and sprang to prominence in the late nineties when he dominated the [[Honda CB500]] cup series as a 17 year old. He was picked up to ride a Supersport [[Honda]] and won races at national level. As a result he was signed to the factory [[World Supersport|Honda World Supersport]] squad where he rode for two years with mixed results and a number of injuries.
+He joined the [[Superbike racing|British Superbikes]] series in [[2000]], riding for [[Paul Bird]]'s [[Vimto]]-sponsored team and getting good results on a [[Honda VTR]].
 ===World Superbikes===
 In 2001 aged 20, Toseland joined the GSE team to partner [[Neil Hodgson]] in World Superbikes. Having never taken a top 5 finish in either British Superbikes or World Supersport, he was not initially as competitive as Hodgson. But by late [[2002]] he was challenging for top 5 results in World Superbike and took 7th place overall that year. In 2003 the team was more competitive than ever, allowing James to take his first win at [[Oschersleben]] and 3rd in the championship.
-In [[2004]] Toseland joined the factory Ducati team as second rider to the experienced [[Regis Laconi]], and pipped Laconi and [[Chris Vermeulen]] to the title at the final meeting of the season. [[2005]] proved to be more of a struggle for Toseland, with a lack of team support {{Fact|date=September 2007}} as well as the returning [[Suzuki]] and [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] teams, and the improving [[Honda]] camp of five riders including [[Chris Vermeulen]] and [[Pierfrancesco Chili]]. This combination of factors ended the domination of Ducati, and [[Troy Corser]] took the championship on a [[Suzuki]], with Toseland finishing 5th.
+In [[2004]] Toseland joined the factory Ducati team as second rider to the experienced [[Regis Laconi]], and piped Laconi and [[Chris Vermeulen]] to the title at the final meeting of the season. [[2005]] proved to be more of a struggle for Toseland, with a lack of team support as well as the returning [[Suzuki]] and [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] teams,<ref name="biog"/> and the improving [[Honda]] camp of five riders including [[Chris Vermeulen]] and [[Pierfrancesco Chili]]. This combination of factors ended the domination of Ducati, and [[Troy Corser]] took the championship on a [[Suzuki]], with Toseland finishing 5th.
 For 2006 Toseland switched to the '''[[Winston (cigarette)|Winston]] Ten Kate [[Honda]]''' racing team, replacing the MotoGP-bound [[Chris Vermeulen]], where he rode alongside Australian [[Karl Muggeridge]]. He won the season-opener in Qatar, and finished 2nd in the championship behind [[Troy Bayliss]]. He was contacted to replaced injured [[Toni Elías]] for the [[Fortuna (cigarette)|Fortuna]] [[Honda]] team for a one-off appearance in [[MotoGP]], but this didn't happen for sponsor-related reasons.