The James Toseland / Ryuichi Kiyonari pairing that posed the biggest threat to the Suzuki, as the BSB points leader went head-to-head with WSBK regular Yukio Kagayama in the early stages
The bid turned sour when Kiyonari turned the #11 bike over to Toseland at the end of the first hour. Keen to take up where his team-mate had left off, the Briton pushed too hard in his opening laps, crashing after just three laps of the famous Suzuka track. Approaching the Dunlop Curve, the front end tucked under and the WSBK points leader was down. Toseland managed to get the CBR1000RR back to the pits, but the HRC crew declared the machine too badly damaged to continue.
Fingers crossed he wins the title this year. I hope he stays and defends it next season… I want to see a serious British contender in GP. Going to a 2nd/3rd rate team is not gonna do him any good. Hang on for a factory team!!