A change to the set up of his Tech 3 Yamaha paid dividends for Toseland at the Mugello circuit and he was pleased with the outcome.

"I'm so happy to be on a competitive bike with Tech 3 Yamaha," said Toseland.

"Today's race was good fun but also hard work because it is so hot and racing at this level is always challenging."

"I must thank the team and Colin for all of their help this weekend."

"We gambled with the setting of the bike jut before the race after morning warm-up and it seems to have paid off."

"It's a great feeling to be able to put the frustration of the last few races behind me."

The race was won by championship leader Valentino Rossi, and Toseland's sixth place means he climbs to eigth in the standings.

And this week the 27-year-old as checking out the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit this week in preparation for his long awaited appearance at the bwin.com British Grand Prix on Sunday 22nd June

"I can't wait to get to Donington to race a MotoGP machine for the first time in front of those fantastic home fans," said Toseland speaking between practice sessions for the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello this weekend. "It's a great circuit and for once I don't have to learn it. I know where I'm going right from the start."

Toseland was a guest at Donington for the fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on Monday. He told BSB Commentator Larry Carter and the patriotic crowd just how much he was looking forward to taking on the likes of Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Stoner in what promises to be an epic 23 lap battle.

A British rider has never won a Premier class British Grand Prix since it switched to the mainland from the TT Circuit in the Isle of Man in 1977. The last British rider to win a premier class grand prix was the late Barry Sheene and that was 27 years ago in Sweden. The last British rider to finish on a premier class podium was Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams when he was third at the 2000 British Grand Prix at Donington.