Toseland disappointed with poor pace

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider made a strong start but rapidly lost pace and ended up a lap down.

"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," said Toseland.

"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."

But despite his disappointment about the race result, Toseland believes he made progress during the dry parts of the weekend and is much more optimistic about the forthcoming United States race.

"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," he said.

"I was only half-a-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."