Toseland was third on the timesheets on the final day of the test, just behind current champion Casey Stoner and previous champion Nicky Hayden. It was just reward for the Bennetts-supported Brit and the Tech 3 Yamaha team who have been working extremely hard over the winter to ensure that the 27-year-old can be competitive on his debut in the premier motorcycle racing class.



In last week’s first test in Sepang, Toseland finished eighth on the final day of testing. He was confident that he could improve on this position in Australia as a result of his knowledge and experience of the Phillip Island circuit.



“It’s been a great reference point for me to ride a MotoGP bike for the first time at a circuit I know well,” says James. “This has enabled me to really get the feeling I need from the bike and understand it much better. The team have worked brilliantly and I feel that they really understand what I need. To finish third on the final timesheet is a real bonus for me and most importantly it earns respect from everyone concerned with MotoGP.”



“It’s fantastic to see James doing so well at such an early stage,” says Bennetts’ Marketing Director Mark Fells. “There’s a really high level of support for him in the UK, so from the next test in Jerez we’ll be producing an exclusive behind-the-scenes video diary with James for our website – bennetts.co.uk. Visitors will see James’s post race reactions and hear his personal views on his progress through the season, which after his brilliant performance in Australia, should make for great viewing!”