An enthralling 27-lap race last Sunday pushed the Kiveton racer's points total into three figures – putting him well in contention for a top 10 championship finish, with two races left in his debut year.

The Yamaha star charged into third place on the opening lap at Phillip Island, Australia.

He briefly surrendered third to team-mate Jorge Lorenzo two laps later, but recovered superbly with a bold move at the first corner on lap five.

Birthday boy Toseland kept multiple World Champion Valentino Rossi at bay for six laps. Twice he responded with inch-perfect moves after the Italian tried to reclaim third place.

This thrilled the crowd, as did his battles with Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and Shinya Nakano in the second half of the race, once Rossi had moved ahead.

Although Toseland dropped two places to finish sixth after a hectic lap 25, many watching toasted his performance as the ride of the day.
"I just wanted to stay out of trouble but I had some incredible battles out there," he said.

"The one with Valentino was something special. When he passed me I knew I had to get straight back by him. If I'd let him go I knew I'd have to push right at the limit and that would wear my tyre too quickly."

"When he did pass me and he pulled a gap, I did push a bit too hard and that cost me towards the end of the race."

"But it was an honour to be racing with Valentino and passing him."
Toseland described it as 'an unbelievable race,' and defended his move on Andrea Dovizioso in the latter stages.

"I knew fourth was up for grabs so I tried to pass Andrea on the last lap," he said.

"We ran a bit wide and Andrea seemed a bit upset, but I passed him without touching him."

"I was fighting for the best result of my MotoGP career so I had to try something. Shinya came by as I ran wide but I passed him back at Siberia, only for him to come right back underneath me because I ran a bit wide again."

Team manager Herve Poncharal said Toseland's near-faultless race showed true fighting credentials.

"He was absolutely incredible," he said. "He could not have done anymore to get his best result of the season. "His fight with Valentino was extra special and terrific to watch."

Poncharal admitted to dreaming of a podium finish at times during the race, but said the battle with Rossi provided sufficient entertainment.

"Not a lot of guys get passed by Valentino and then pass him straight back, so it was incredible to see him do this."

Toseland's penultimate race of the season is at Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix on 19th October.