“Oh my god, I’ll never forget it” : James Toseland on racing against Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island, Sepang

“Oh my god, I’ll never forget it” : James Toseland on racing against Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island, Sepang

James Toseland and Valentino Rossi

A seat on the MotoGP grid is not one that comes frequently towards the way of WorldSBK riders although it is without a doubt a fact that there is some impressive talent in the championship who have the potential to race in MotoGP. It is more common for MotoGP riders to make the switch to WorldSBK with the prime examples being Iker Lecouna and Ex-Moto 2 riders Xavi Vierge and Hafizh Syarin. 

If a WorldSBK rider potentially had the talent to make the move, a plethora of challenges will arrive with it. With WorldSBK riders being used to a short calendar, such is not the way in which MotoGP operates as they have multiple races off which 10 circuits will be completely new to the rider which is something that the teams do not prefer is what Toseland had to say. The Age factor also comes into play as teams and sponsors are not appeased by the older WorldSBK riders as they will need years to adjust to MotoGP and will become a long term investment which isn’t favourable as the teams could just pick a young rider from the lower divisions of MotoGP like Moto2 for example.

Ex- Yamaha rider James Toseland had raced against Valentino Rossi when he was a newcomer in MotoGP and the whole experience had left him speechless. 

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“ I raced against Valentino in Sepang, oh my god!” : James Toseland

Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi

“I know first-hand [the difficulties of going to new circuits] – I raced against Valentino in Phillip Island and I raced against Valentino in Sepang – oh my god! 

“I’ll never forget the experience of racing around with him in Phillip Island in 2008 and I’ll never forget the feeling of not being able to see him after three corners in Sepang. And to get within half a second of those boys after an hour-and-a-half on a track you’ve never been to before, it’s a tough old gig, I’ll tell you that. “

Racing against Valentino Rossi is an honour that a selected number of riders have gotten to experience and it must have to be out of this world.

How long do you think it would take for you to train and become as good as the professional MotoGP riders of today?

Also read : Why does Valentino Rossi have an “Unforgivable” grudge on Marc Marquez?