Toseland 11th, Edwards crashes at soaked Sachsenring
Today's 30-lap German MotoGP race ended below pre-race expectations
for Tech 3 Yamaha duo Colin Edwards and James Toseland at
a rain-soaked Sachsenring.
Making his wet race debut on board the Yamaha YZR-M1, Toseland
gained valuable experience in full rain conditions on his
way to a battling 11th place. Edwards' bid though to extend
the best run of form in his MotoGP career ended with a crash
out of fifth place on lap 21. Toseland made a stunning start
from the fourth row to claim fifth by the first corner, but
he was unable to match the fast pace of the leaders as he
faced the tough task of mastering the conditions, while also
adapting to his YZR-M1 machine in the wet. Edwards' crash
ended his valiant attempt to claim a sixth successive top
five finish in front of a 98,000-strong crowd. Having started
from the front row for the fifth time in 2008, he seemed certain
to be Michelin's best finisher when he slipped off at the
seventh corner while holding off Andrea Dovizioso. Fortunately,
Edwards escaped injury and is looking forward to a return
to form in his home race at Laguna Seca next weekend.
James Toseland 11th - 65 points
"That was my first wet MotoGP race and I've got to admit
that while I feel I've learned a lot, it was a difficult afternoon.
I got an unbelievable start and at the first corner I was
fifth and nearly took fourth. I thought I was in business
but pretty much straightaway I knew it was going to be difficult
to try and go away with the leading group. I had a couple
of moments on the opening lap and I started losing places
quite quickly. The frustrating thing was I couldn't do anything
to respond. I didn't want to push too hard because I'd seen
Jorge Lorenzo crash in front of me, so I knew I wasn't the
only one struggling for rear grip. I think that coupled with
a lack of experience of riding this bike in the rain made
it tough. I kind of just got stuck at the pace I was running
and couldn't really go any faster. I'm not going to blame
anybody because I'm having a bit of a bad period but a positive
from the weekend is I feel we have taken some big strides
with the set-up of the bike. I was only halfa- second off
the front row and I was fourth in the warm-up, so it has not
been a bad weekend. We have eliminated a lot of problems and
the team has done a great job, so I am looking forward to
getting back closer to where I know I am capable of being
and the team is capable of being at Laguna Seca. It is a track
I know well, and I go there in a positive frame of mind as
always despite having this tough run."
Colin Edwards DNF - 98 points
"All I can is it was a very tough race right from the
start. The conditions were not easy but I got a reasonable
start and just wanted to get into a steady pace. But it was
obvious from quite early on that it was going to be difficult.
I didn't have a lot of feel from the rear tyre and I tried
everything I could to hang in there and keep a top five finish
for the team, who have been great all weekend. It would have
also kept my own personal good run going. But as the race
wore on it wasn't getting any better and I lost the rear at
the downhill left-hander. I had no warning at all and I didn't
feel I was particularly pushing too hard because by that stage
a podium had already gone. I was trying to keep Dovizioso
behind me to at least finish top Michelin rider. I'd tried
to follow Casey and Valentino but I just didn't have anything
for them. Fifth was going to be the best result I could have
managed today and that's a bit disappointing because in the
dry I think I could have been fighting for a podium. I'm just
grateful I didn't get hurt in the crash because I've got my
home race coming up and I desperately want to put on a good
performance for the American fans, Tech 3 and Yamaha at Laguna
Seca. After this disappointment I'll be looking to bounce
straight back."
Herve Poncharal - Team Manager
"It was obviously not what we expected. We were not too
confident for a wet race even though Colin had done another
fantastic job to get on the front row again. We also know
that Colin is very fast in the rain and the race started quite
well and Colin and James were both right up with the leaders.
But unfortunately we could easily see that it was difficult
for Colin to follow the leaders from very early on and a podium
was going to be difficult to achieve. Colin tried his absolute
maximum to stay close and he was the first Michelin rider
before he crashed. This can happen in such tough conditions
and I don't blame him at all. He was trying very hard with
a package that wasn't competitive enough to get a podium.
Luckily he is okay because he has a very important race for
him, the team and Yamaha next weekend in Laguna Seca. James
also had some problems and I'm thankful he managed to bring
it home and get a few points in such tough conditions in what
was his first wet race. We have been on a good run of results
and we might have closed on Jorge in fourth in the championship
but it didn't happen. Hopefully in Laguna we won't have any
rain and I hope Colin and James can be up front and they will
only have issues with the heat and not the rain."
Circuit Length: 3671
Temp: 14
Weather: Very Wet
2008 MotoGP Germany - Sachsenring 13/07/2008
Race 1 - 30 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Casey Stoner Ducati AUS 47'30.057
2 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 0'3.708
3 Chris Vermeulen Suzuki AUS 0'14.002
4 Alex De Angelis Honda SMR 0'14.124
5 Andrea Dovizioso Honda ITA 0'42.022
6 Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 0'46.648
7 Loris Capirossi Suzuki ITA 1'4.483
8 Randy De Puniet Honda FRA 1'4.588
9 Shinya Nakano Honda JPN 1'16.773
10 Anthony West Kawasaki AUS 1'29.275
11 James Toseland Yamaha GBR -1 Laps
12 Toni Elias Ducati ESP -1 Laps
13 Nicky Hayden Honda USA -2 Laps
Best Lap
Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
Casey Stoner Ducati AUS 1'32.749
Rider Standings 13/07/2008
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 187
2. Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 171
3. Casey Stoner Ducati AUS 167
4. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 114
5. Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 98
6. Andrea Dovizioso Honda ITA 90
7. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki AUS 73
8. Nicky Hayden Honda USA 73
9. James Toseland Yamaha GBR 65
10. Shinya Nakano Honda JPN 64
11. Loris Capirossi Suzuki ITA 60
12. Alex De Angelis Honda SMR 38
13. Toni Elias Ducati ESP 37
14. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 34
15. John Hopkins Kawasaki USA 32
Team Standings 13/07/2008
Pos. Team Points
1. FIAT Yamaha Team 301
2. Repsol Honda Team 244
3. Ducati Marlboro Team 199
4. Tech3 Yamaha 163
5. Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 135
6. Honda Gresini 102
7. JIR Scot Team 90
8. Team Alice 71
9. Kawasaki Racing Team 54
10. Honda LCR 30
Manufacturer Standings 13/07/2008
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Yamaha 216
2. Honda 184
3. Ducati 172
4. Suzuki 96
5. Kawasaki 47
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