James Toseland

James Toseland
Toseland in 2005
Nationality	English
Born	(1980-10-05)5 October 1980 Doncaster,South Yorkshire
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2008–2009 Manufacturers Yamaha Championships 0 2009 championshipposition 13th (78 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 35 0 0 0 0 197 Superbike World Championship Active years 2001–2007,2010-2011 Manufacturers Ducati,Honda,Yamaha,BMW Motorrad Championships 2 (2004,2007) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 201 16 61 4 2 2.098 Supersport World Championship Active years 1999 Manufacturers Honda Championships 0 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 11 0 0 0 0 59

James Michael Toseland(born 5 October 1980)is an English former motorcycle racer and vocalist of his own rock band named Toseland. For 2020, he was team-manager of Wepol Racing with riders inWorld Supersportand Supersport 300,and is a television motorcycle racing commentator.

Toseland was theWorld Superbike Championfor2007on aHonda Firebladeprepared byTen Kate,and also won theSuperbike World Championshipfor2004on aDucati.He is one of only two men, the other beingTroy Corser,to have won the World Superbike Championship for two different manufacturers. On 9 September 2011 he officially retired from professional motorsport due to a wrist injury sustained in March 2011 at an officialWorld Superbike Championshiptesting session atMotorland Aragon,Spain.He underwent further surgery in the US during 2023 to restore some movement and reduce pain.

Aside from racing, Toseland is a pianist (reachingGrade 6) and singer-songwriter who performs with his Toseland band around the world. He has also performed alongsideRay Stubbsfor the BBC'sSport Reliefand played a piano set at theBBC Sports Personality of the Yearawards in 2007.

Early life and education

Toseland was born inDoncaster,South Yorkshire.His parents separated when he was young and he was subsequently raised by his mother inKiveton Parkin theBorough of Rotherham.After his mother started a relationship with Ken Wright, Toseland accepted him as his default father figure, and began taking interest in Wright's hobbies. Toseland began taking piano lessons aged eight, taught by a professional pianist; and he also started ridingmotocrossbikes on the coalslag heapsclose to his home.He was taught from Year 7 to Year 11 atWales High School,located in Kiveton Park.

Although the family struggled with income, Toseland attended juniortrialsand motocross events across the UK. However, Wright and Toseland's mother separated when Toseland was in his early teens and Wright later died by suicide.Toseland kept up his piano lessons, achievingGrade 6but not quite enough for him to gain a place at theLondon College of Music.

Motorcycle racing career (1995–2000)

Transferring his motorcycle career from off-road to road racing after Wright's death, Toseland quickly worked his way up through the ranks becoming 1995 Junior Road Race Champion before moving on to 125cc racing in the UK Superteen series, and then sprang to prominence in the late nineties when he dominated theHonda CB500 Cupseries aged 17. He was then picked up to ride a SupersportHondaand won races at national level.

As a result of his early racing success, he was signed to the factoryCastrolHondaWorld Supersportsquad where he rode for two years finishing 18th and 11th in the championship with best results of 8th in his first year and 6th in the first round of the second year.

He joined theBritish Superbike Championshipseries in 2000, riding for Paul Bird'sVimto-sponsored team on aHonda VTRHe contested the first seven rounds, missing four more through injury, and over the course of these picked up 101 points. Altogether, this placed him 12th in the championship and his results included seven finishes in the top eight riders, including two sixth places at Oulton Park.

Superbike World Championship (2001–2007)

As a result of his early racing success, he was signed to the factory Castrol HondaWorld Supersportsquad where he rode for two years finishing 18th and 11th in the championship with best results of 8th in his first year and 6th in the first round of the second year. In2001aged 20, Toseland joined the GSE team to partnerNeil Hodgsonin the Superbikes World Championship. Having never taken a top five finish in either theBritish Superbike Championshipor theSupersport World Championship,he was not initially as competitive as Hodgson. However, by late2002he was challenging for top 5 results and took seventh place overall that year. In2003the team was more competitive than ever, allowing Toseland to take his first win atOscherslebenand third in the championship overall.

In2004after bothNeil HodgsonandRuben Xausleft the Superbikes World Championship to race in MotoGP, Toseland joined the factory FilaDucatiteam as second rider to the experiencedRegis Laconi,aboard the dominant 999 F04 motorcycle. Toseland put together a consistent series to stay withRegis Laconiall the way, and even ahead at several meetings. The final races at Magny-Cours saw youngster Toseland out-ride his experienced teammate, giving him the title by a nine-point margin. A final tally of 336 included three wins and 11 other podium finishes. At the age of 23 years and 364 days, he is the youngest Superbike World Champion until this day.

2005proved to be more of a struggle for Toseland, with a lack of team support as well as the returningSuzukiandYamahateamsand the improvingHondacamp of five riders includingChris VermeulenandPierfrancesco Chili.This combination of factors ended the domination of Ducati, andTroy Corsertook the championship on aSuzuki,with Toseland finishing fourth overall.

For2006Toseland switched to theWinstonTen Kate RacingHondaracing team, replacing the MotoGP-boundChris Vermeulen,where he rode alongside AustralianKarl Muggeridge.Toseland won the season-opener in Qatar, and finished second in the championship behindTroy Bayliss.He was contacted to replace injuredToni Elíasfor theFortunaHondateam for a one-off appearance in MotoGP, but this did not 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. However, d'antin had not performed well over recent years, and Toseland turned the offer down, not willing to make up the grid on a bike that wasn't competitive.

James Toseland at WK SBK Assen 2007

Toseland remained inWSBKfor2007withTen Kate RacingHonda, despite a firm offer from thePramac d'Antinteam to race in MotoGP. Toseland posted a first/second combination at the first meeting in Qatar,and atPhilip Island.He won one race in each of the first five meetings of the year. AtAssenhe almost took a pair of wins but he was passed by Bayliss, losing by just 0.009 seconds. Toseland won his first ever World Superbike double atBrands Hatchon 5 August giving him a 66-point lead in the championship overall. In the final race atMagny-Cours,he claimed the 2007 World Superbike title with a pole position in qualifying, seventh position in race one, and a sixth place in race two, to leave him two points ahead of Japan'sNoriyuki Haga.

Toseland became part of the Phil Burgan Race Academy (PBRA) – a programme for developing British talent in motorcycle sport – in 2007.

MotoGP (2008–2009)

James Toseland riding theYamaha Tech3M1

Toseland was linked with thePramac d'AntinMotoGP team, although rumours had also abounded of a ride with aHondaoutfit, and even ofTen Kate Racingmaking the step up to the premier class and taking Toseland with them. However, 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 supportedYamahateamTech3.For 2008Tech3switched fromDunloptoMichelintyres and it was confirmed that Toseland's teammate would beColin Edwards.Toseland also signed a deal with British leathers company BKS to supply him with suits while competing in the 2008 MotoGP world championship.

Facing eight unknown tracks, Toseland had reason to expect a tough seasonToseland faces 'last of the eight'.,but he was immediately more competitive than originally anticipated. He qualified in second place and finished sixth in the opening race at Qatar on 9 March.

He then qualified in eighth place and finished sixth at Jerez on 30 March despite suffering from bronchitis.

Fellow MotoGP ridersChris Vermeulen,Andrea DoviziosoandCasey Stonercomplained about his aggressive riding style. Toseland stated that his moves were "hard but fair", and that it was his job to overtake his rivals when he had the chance to do so.

Before the British MotoGP round atDonington Park,Toseland said that if he were the first Briton to win in 27 years at the top level that he would strip naked on the ride back to the pits.However, he crashed in the first corner of the race, but picked his bike up to finish in 17th place, his worst finish of the season to that point, over a lap behind the winnerCasey Stoner.

Toseland struggled through the middle part of the season for top ten finishes, achieving two ninth places (the Netherlands and the United States). One of James' better showings was at Brno where he finished 13th, ahead of his teammateColin Edwards.Amidst Bridgestone dominance he was the third-highest finisher onMichelintires, the first beingAndrea Doviziosoplaced in ninth. AtPhillip Islandhe ran third for a while but ultimately faded to sixth after frantic battles with the factory-supported Yamahas ofValentino RossiandJorge Lorenzoas well as Dovizioso andShinya Nakano.

Overall Toseland had a mixed first year in the Moto GP class, finishing 11th overall in the championship with 105 points. Inconsistency was one of the main problems as he was unable to record regular top ten results despite having only two DNFs.

It was confirmed that Toseland would stay on for 2009 with the Tech3 Yamaha team, racing alongsideColin Edwardsas he did in 2008. Yamaha also decided to continue its relationship with the Tech3 brand through to 2010.

In pre-season testing, Toseland suffered two major accidents, one with concussion. In 2008 Toseland had been unhappy with the communication with his engineer and his complaints led to a switch of crew chief with teammateColin Edwards.Edwards resented this change and refused to speak with Toseland during the early rounds of the season.Despite the change in crew chief Toseland only finished ahead of Edwards in two races for the year. Toseland also received jump-start penalties at the Laguna Seca and Phillip Island rounds, the former resulting in a disqualification.

On 1 October 2009, Yamaha officially confirmed that Spies would join Yamaha Tech3 to ride in the2010 MotoGP championship,taking Toseland's place in the team.It was also announced before the Portuguese GP that Toseland would return to theSuperbike World Championship.

Return to Superbike World Championship – and retirement (2010–2011)

After losing his place at Tech3 Yamaha toBen Spies,Toseland took over Spies' place at the Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike team for the2010 Superbike World Championship season.His teammate was fellow British riderCal Crutchlow. Toseland struggled to adapt to the new bike early in the season, only gaining 4 podium finishes going into the last two rounds of the season.

For 2011, after being offered a return to Ten Kate Honda, he signed for the factory-backedBMW MotorradItalia Team aboard theBMW S1000RR.

In September 2011, Toseland confirmed that, following the wrist injury sustained during a crash atAragonin Spain, he would retire from racing immediately.

Toseland used his previous experience on the race track to help develop up-and-coming motorcycle racing stars of the future as part of his involvement with the Phil Burgan Race Academy. From 2012, Toseland stepped into a mentoring role,providing one-to-one support for the Academy's talented young motorcycle racers includingDanny KentandSylvain Barrier.

In December 2012 he announced he would attempt to break the motorcycle land speed world record in September 2014; this was delayed due to adverse weather and surface conditions.Thestreamlinerthat Toseland will ride for the attempt at theBonneville Salt FlatsinUtah,United States is powered by aRolls-Roycejet engine and is called 'The 52 Express' after Toseland's racing number. The record attempt is led by former GP and TT sidecar competitor Alex Macfadzean.

World Supersport management

For 2020, he was confirmed as team manager of Wepol Racing based in the Czech Republic, with riders inWorld Supersportand Supersport 300. Wepol has backing fromYART,and Toseland also acts asmentorto Wepol's riderDanny Webb,a formerendurance racer.

Music

Following the premature end of his racing career, Toseland returned his focus to his first love – music. After parting with his band Crash, he is now fronting a band simply named Toseland. The band's debut single: "Life is Beautiful" premiered online in April 2013.

The first albumRenegadewas released in 2014 and Toseland's first three releases, from the album, ( "Life Is Beautiful", "Crash Landing" and "Renegade" ) all made it on to the A list on national radio stations and the album has received outstanding reviews. UK headline tours followed, along with special guest slots withStatus QuoandReef,at the Calling Festival withAerosmithand various appearances in Europe.

The second albumCradle The Ragewas released in March 2016, and was followed once again by tours all over the UK and Europe. Along with their own headline shows, the band hit the road supportingDeep PurpleandBlack Stone Cherry.

Toseland re-recorded the song "'We'll Stop At Nothing" from theirCradle The Ragealbum with the ChorusUK choir. The single became the official anthem for the Special Olympics GB 2017.In November 2017, Toseland announced that they had signed a deal with premier rock label Frontiers Records, and that they have begun work on their third album - as of 2023 this seems to have been shelved.

Personal life

Toseland was nominated for theBBC Sports Personality of the Year Awardin 2007.He demonstrated his piano virtuosity during the ceremony, performing a specially written solo blues/jazz piece.

He was voted as the BBC Yorkshire Sports Personality of the Year in 2007.

Toseland was awarded an honorary doctorate fromSheffield Hallam Universityin 2009.He became a patron of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity in 2012.Amongst his fundraising efforts he has taken part in the majority of the charity Easter Egg Runs where motorcyclists raise money and deliver soft toys chocolate treats to poorly children at the hospital.

In January 2012 Toseland announced his engagement to the singerKatie Melua.They were married on 1 September 2012, in the Nash Conservatory, at theRoyal Botanic Gardensin Kew, London.In 2020 Melua revealed that the couple had separated.

Racing career statistics

Notes:
(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position) (Races initalicsindicate fastest lap)

All time

Series		Years Active	Races	Poles	Podiums	Wins	2nd place	3rd place	Fast Laps	Titles
World Supersport(WSS)		1998–1999	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
World Superbike(SBK)		2001–07, 2010–2011	201	4	61	16	26	19	2	2
Moto GP		2008–09	34	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total			252	4	61	16	26	19	2	2

Supersport World Championship

Year	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Pos	Pts	Ref
1998	Honda	GBR	ITA	SPA	GER	SMR	RSA 10	USA Ret	EUR 8	AUT 12	NED Ret		19th	18
1999		RSA 6	GBR 8	SPA 11	ITA 9	GER 13	SMR 13	USA 11	EUR 7	AUT Ret	NED 7	GER 22	11th	59

Superbike World Championship

Year	Make	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		12		13		Pos	Pts	Ref
		R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
2001	Ducati	ESP Ret	ESP 9	RSA 14	RSA Ret	AUS 14	AUS C	JPN 11	JPN 16	ITA Ret	ITA Ret	GBR 8	GBR Ret	GER Ret	GER 17	SMR 11	SMR 8	USA 10	USA 7	EUR 11	EUR 6	GER 10	GER 12	NED 10	NED 8	ITA Ret	ITA DNS	13th	91
2002		ESP 12	ESP 10	AUS 8	AUS 7	RSA 6	RSA 8	JPN 9	JPN 11	ITA 5	ITA Ret	GBR 10	GBR 9	GER 7	GER 7	SMR 8	SMR Ret	USA 9	USA 6	GBR 9	GBR Ret	GER 6	GER 8	NED 6	NED 3	ITA 6	ITA 6	7th	195
2003		ESP 4	ESP 3	AUS Ret	AUS 4	JPN 3	JPN 5	ITA 4	ITA 5	GER 3	GER 1	GBR 2	GBR 4	SMR 2	SMR Ret	USA 3	USA Ret	GBR 6	GBR 3	NED 4	NED Ret	ITA Ret	ITA Ret	FRA 5	FRA 2			3rd	271
2004		ESP 1	ESP 2	AUS 3	AUS Ret	SMR 10	SMR 6	ITA 2	ITA 2	GER 2	GER 2	GBR Ret	GBR 5	USA 4	USA 7	GBR 2	GBR Ret	NED 1	NED 2	ITA 3	ITA 2	FRA 1	FRA 2					1st	336
2005		QAT 6	QAT 6	AUS 14	AUS Ret	ESP 8	ESP 19	ITA 3	ITA 5	EUR 3	EUR 1	SMR 4	SMR 4	CZE 2	CZE 8	GBR Ret	GBR 7	NED 2	NED 3	GER 4	GER 11	ITA 4	ITA C	FRA 3	FRA 6			4th	254
2006	Honda	QAT 1	QAT 4	AUS 3	AUS 2	ESP 9	ESP 11	ITA Ret	ITA 5	EUR 3	EUR 3	SMR 2	SMR 8	CZE 2	CZE 5	GBR 2	GBR 5	NED 10	NED 9	GER 9	GER 1	ITA 2	ITA 5	FRA 1	FRA 3			2nd	336
2007		QAT 2	QAT 1	AUS 2	AUS 1	EUR 1	EUR Ret	ESP 5	ESP 1	NED 1	NED 2	ITA 4	ITA 2	GBR 8	GBR C	SMR 4	SMR 6	CZE 1	CZE 2	GBR 1	GBR 1	GER 9	GER 4	ITA 3	ITA 11	FRA 7	FRA 6	1st	415
2010	Yamaha	AUS Ret	AUS 10	POR 7	POR 6	SPA 3	SPA 7	NED 2	NED 3	ITA 2	ITA Ret	RSA 7	RSA 6	USA 9	USA Ret	SMR 10	SMR Ret	CZE 7	CZE 4	GBR 8	GBR 5	GER Ret	GER 8	ITA Ret	ITA Ret	FRA Ret	FRA Ret	9th	187
2011	BMW	AUS 17	AUS 14	GBR	GBR	NED	NED	ITA DNS	ITA DNS	USA 15	USA DNS	SMR	SMR	SPA	SPA	CZE WD	CZE WD	GBR 12	GBR 13	GER 13	GER Ret	ITA	ITA	FRA	FRA	POR	POR	22nd	13

Grand Prix motorcycle racing results

Year	Class	Bike	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Pos	Pts
2008	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 6	SPA 6	POR 7	CHN 12	FRA Ret	ITA 6	CAT 6	GBR 17	NED 9	GER 11	USA 9	CZE 13	SMR 6	INP 18	JPN 11	AUS 6	MAL Ret	VAL 11	11th	105
2009	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 16	JPN 9	SPA 13	FRA 9	ITA 7	CAT 13	NED 6	USA DSQ	GER 10	GBR 6	CZE 9	INP 6	SMR 10	POR 9	AUS 14	MAL 15	VAL 12		14th	92

External links

• James Toselandat MotoGP.com
• James Toselandat WorldSBK.com
• Official website
• James Toseland video interview
• Official Toseland band website