Wet weather dampened James Toseland fans, they hope his sixth placing at Donington will be ample to keep him on the grid next season.

The Yamaha competitor has been unable to bring the results this season, creating speculation he will be pushed to change rides with Ben Spies next year.

However his fans anticipate that today’s result (which is his career best), will up his confidence and create a turning point for the remainder of the year.

His sixth placing was the most excellent result ever for a British rider at Donington on a four-stroke engine.

Toseland was very happy with the placing and expressed his gratitude to high-five fans who bombarded the track afterwards and impress them with a few burnouts.

Andy Taylor, 27, from Skegness stated: “He has done really well. It is a shame he didn’t get the fifth place, but if you are going to miss out it is best if it is to Rossi. He has certainly done better than I expected today, I just hope this is the start of things to come.”

Kevin Taylor, 37, from Skegness explained: “Seeing Toseland come sixth has made the weekend, this has easily been the second best race of the year. We want Toseland to stay in the Grand Prix, we need a British rider in it.”

Paul Miller, 42, from Skegness, commented: “Toseland has to stay in MotoGP, he has proven today he can get the results and perform.”

Graham Patrick, 32, from Warminster adds: “I was a bit disappointed with his qualifying position, but when the rain came I thought he could do well, but then he looked like he was going to start dropping back mid-race.

"But he kept it going and the move he put on Rossi to take him back in the Foggy S’s proved he has the determination to do well.”