On behalf of all at the Auto Cycle Union, Chairman Jim Parker wishes to congratulate James Toseland on his second World Superbike Championship title.
Although Toseland arrived at Magny Cours with a 29 point lead in the Championship, the first race very nearly ended in similar style to Lewis Hamilton’s hopes in China. Leading into the first corner, from his pole position, he was hit from behind and sent across the gravel trap. Without panicking and back on the tarmac, although last, he set about securing as many points as possible, showing the speed that gave him pole position, his remarkable fight back took him up to 7th place, just behind his closest rival Biaggi. However, with Haga’s claiming the win, the difference in points after the first race was now just 17 points.
Race Two provided another dominant display by Haga, but behind, Toseland was getting all the information he needed from the pit wall and rode for the points he needed to lift the title, finishing 6th and winning the Championship from Haga by just two points.
Jim Parker said, “Congratulations to James on a superb season, winning the most races, but suffering from bad luck in the final few Rounds, the tension never got the better of his racing and he proved to a very worthy Champion. I wish him all the best for the 2008 season and look forward to watching him line up on the Moto GP grid. “