Yamaha duo looking to move up again

Thursday, 23 September 2010 11:29

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Toseland and CrutchlowThe Yamaha Sterilgarda team, based near Monza, will have their third 'home' race of the 2010 season this coming weekend, at Imola. The British riding duo of Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland have each had some degree of success this season, but at Imola each needs to post strong results once again to move up the championship rankings.


Currently Crutchlow, twice a winner at Silverstone, is fifth in the championship with 217 points. He is only seven points behind Althea Racing rider Carlos Checa, and is riding a wave of momentum from a third and a fourth place finish at the last round in Germany.


Toseland is also in the position of being able to move up if he has two strong races, as he is only 15 points behind sixth place rider Noriyuki Haga.


Crutchlow already has some intense memories of lapping Imola, from a crash in last year's Supersport event to posting fastest time in this summer's Pirelli tests sessions. "I'm really looking forward to this round," said Crutchlow. "I have unfinished business here from last year. I had a great pole position start in Supersport but crashed out, so I need to make sure I get a victory here this weekend! I was fastest rider in the test here earlier in the year so I'm confident we can do well."


For Toseland, who has 16 career World Superbike victories but never one in Italy, Imola is another chance to go for a podium finish, his first since Monza back in May. "I had a difficult test here earlier in the year," said Toseland. "We've come a long way since then and have improved our set up so I'm confident that we can achieve more and be fighting at the front. I'm going to give it 100% as always, I definitely want to be on the podium here."