Tech 3 stars at war over crew chief

Eurosport - Wed, 19 Nov 18:07:00 2008

Yamaha Tech 3 stars James Toseland and Colin Edwards have fallen out after the Briton took the American's crew chief for the 2009 season.

2008 Italian GP Yamaha Toseland Edwards - 0

Sheffield rider Toseland, 27, will work with Gary Reynders in 2009 as he bids to earn a further ride when his contract expires at the conclusion of that campaign.

Twice World Superbike champion Toseland came into MotoGP at the start of last season and finished 11th in the riders' standings while his colleague took seventh, almost 40 points better off.

"I'd had a couple of conversations with Colin's crew chief over the year and he was highly praised for his work inside the team and with the Japanese," Toseland told Motor Cycle News.

"Gary pointed out that he would like to work with me. It is not a secret that it could be Colin's last year in 2009 and Gary also wants a longer career in MotoGP, as I do.

"I can't have the inconsistency next year, because I don't want it to be my last year, either.

"It was discussed in a way to move the team forward. I'm sure that the dust will settle, even though it is an awkward situation."

Texan Edwards, 34, slammed his team-mate - who he also raced alongside at Castrol Honda in the late Nineties, when Toseland was a teenager - for the move.

"It is just that the code of ethics has definitely been broken," he said. "I think he has crossed the line.

"The thought of taking my team-mate's crew chief would never have crossed my mind, but I guess I've got a different code of ethics than what James has and that's probably the part that has p***ed me off the most.

"I won't lose any sleep over not talking to James."

Edwards cranked up the pressure on Toseland, who explained that he knew early in the season that things would not work out with his 2008 chief Guy Coulon.

"He's got the best crew chief he believes he can have, so now he's got to go out and prove it and stop blaming everything else," Edwards said.

"His only option now is to win races. He's got no excuses; now I don't feel any need to show any respect towards both of them, really."

Toseland said: "The simple fact is there was a communication problem between Guy and myself. There was a lack of understanding between my feedback and how it translated into the bike.

"I'm not criticising anybody. This is solely to get an understanding so we can work in a more productive way."

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 16 of 36

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  1. g.gcww.The only way Toseland swaps paint is when hes fighting for his usual 6th position.If he started better,he wouldnt scrape paint,and you wouldnt have anything to talk about.MIEW!

    From Geezer on a duke, on Thu 20 Nov 3:57PM

  2. Toseland needs more than Edwards crew chief,he needs to learn how to compete at the top level. James seriously underachieved last season,and there isnt any indication he will be any better next Quit now!.

    From Geezer on a duke, on Thu 20 Nov 3:52PM

  3. hi suzukiaussietrav ,kevincooling here...4 times world champ ,,ermmm Foggy??..250 winner ..Jes Macwilliams, oh and yes correct not winning 500's but coming 3rd agaist Vale and Roberts JR....Hodson,Walker ermm and that was not at brands.....you MUST be some bitter Ausie guy witha beer gut living in Earls court lol....., can you remember the real riders..Jack Finnley(RIP) Gray Crosby, Digger......and yes they did want it abit more , but really mate ,get a life and be balanced ..you know a chip on both shoulders!....all the best .
    Kev C...Baghdad!!!.last point its strange the mardy one( C-S) came to the UK to make his mark and not some other country ..carnt be all bad!

    From Kevin, on Thu 20 Nov 1:20PM

  4. when Toesland starts swapping paint in Moto GP most of the riders just moan about him riding too hard.

    From GEORGE, on Thu 20 Nov 12:20PM

  5. arshad, that just proves how passport dependant Moto GP is but maybe the 3 young brits in 125's right now could change things later on.

    From GEORGE, on Thu 20 Nov 12:13PM

  6. Brits might be swapping paints in WSB but I hardly see them making an impact in MotoGP, the pinnacle of motorcycle racing

    From arshad_iceman2, on Thu 20 Nov 11:49AM

  7. scotlee, what planet do you live on, BSB is the best and the hardest championship of all the superbike racing. Contenders are often seen being carried to their bikes to race, spoon fed, NO WAY!!!! Wait until next year and watch the 5 brits in WSB swapping paint with the established names. Spoon fed my arse!!!!!!

    From GEORGE, on Thu 20 Nov 9:34AM

  8. Toseland overhyped, Edwards far better

    From arshad_iceman2, on Thu 20 Nov 9:24AM

  9. kevincooling... a 4 times world champs... Urm who? Dougie Lampkin... thats not racing mate thats trials. A 500cc winner... Nope. No you havent. 250's... Really? Who... 125's well thats easy as it happened this year. And BSB guys whiping the floor at your home track doesnt count for @#$%. If it does go back about 4 years when Josh Brookes spanked everyone at philip island. And its only this year he go a decent ride. Winning at brands doesnt count for @#$%! You may have a good system but the riders dont have the balls to tough it out. Camier and Rea could be in 250's or MotoGP but the chased the dollars while stoner was living in a caravan... End result... 1 persevered and become world champion the others chased money and are in WSB... Not spoonfed... Just paid too much.

    From Travis L, on Thu 20 Nov 8:54AM

  10. That will not happen !!, as l said before ,l really rated Edwards, but two kids , lovely wife????, he is the last real personality in Motogp right now...not scared to say it how it is etc , but how many races did he qualify well only to finnish well down??...no l cannot see it myself ....esp with the new tyre rule and not his favoured french covers....would like to be proved wrong..but dont think l will be ....

    From Kevin, on Thu 20 Nov 5:51AM

  11. No issue chaps! Edwards will just trounce him again next year!

    From rackemstackemca, on Thu 20 Nov 2:46AM

  12. Spoon fed???, l recall seeing James being carried onto his 600 ,as he had broke both ankles.....l would tend to agree with some sports as we do'big them up " ..but bike racing???..in the last ten years we have had 1 four times world champ, 125, 250 & 500 winners and podium finishers , various BSB riders doing WSB rounds and wiping the floor with the regular riders .....we have a good system in the UK for bring young riders on ....but spoon fed , l dont think so !!!

    From Kevin, on Thu 20 Nov 2:18AM

  13. yet another british rider clutching straws god they big them up in country the british just never have the will 2 win full stop cos they just 2 pampered here they spoonfed from a early age!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Scott, on Wed 19 Nov 10:42PM

  14. y not both share Gary Reynders tallents for the good of the team

    From adrian.alderton@..., on Wed 19 Nov 10:08PM

  15. The truth is as l see it ,is that Edwards is on the down slide ,and l rated Edwards. But this years results have not been that of a two time WSB Champ..... if you remenber that mid way thru the season it was said that the Yamaha team bosses said either shape up OR its back to WSB or AMA...Its a make or break season for Toseland TOO ,he has to prove that hes a top runner or risk being a also ran and just there to make up the numbers and have a brit in the series( tv ratings etc) .....l think personally he can do it, not sure a world champ , but the new lads as l have said before on this blog ..seem worried if someone comes past and gets his elbows out ,and James can certinaly to that!...

    From Kevin, on Wed 19 Nov 9:49PM

  16. Edwards should probably knock them both around a little. Doesn't say much for the team either, letting that happen!

    From Benjamin M, on Wed 19 Nov 9:20PM
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