The Yamaha Tech 3 rider equalled his best ever MotoGP result, finishing sixth at the British Grand Prix.

The British rider constantly posing a threat for the top six as he was locked in an exciting fight with Loris Capirossi, Marco Melandri and Mika Kallio for much of the race.

The 28-year-old looked on course for a career best fifth place on the last lap until he came under a late attack from reigning world champion Valentino Rossi, the Italian pushing Toseland back to sixth with an overtake at the penultimate corner.

Speaking after an exhilarating race in trechorous conditions, Toseland said: "I don't know where to start after a race like that."

"It was so difficult for the entire race to gauge how much rain was falling and where it was falling and it took incredible concentration."

"I got my head down and was fifth on the first lap but just after halfway I was back in 10th because I was struggling for temperature in the left side of the tyre.!

"I was wondering whether to pull in or not and change for the rain tyres at one point but I carried on and kept my lap times as consistent as I could because it was so easy to make a mistake."

Toseland was desperate to come home in fifth and produce his best ever result for the partisan crowd, and although he was pipped by Rossi, he was pleased with his 55-point haul.

"With some of the other guys stopping to switch bikes, I made up a few places and was fifth for the final few laps and thinking I was going to get my best ever MotoGP result," he said.

"That would have been amazing to do that in front of my home crowd, who were absolutely magnificent with their support today. But at the end Valentino came through so strong on the last lap."

"He passed me at The Esses but I managed to dive back under him, but he was phenomenal on the brakes at the Melbourne Loop."

"I wasn't going to try and do anything that might take us both out but it's another sixth place and it definitely makes amends for the big disappointment of last year."

His teammate Colin Edwards finished second, and Toseland was full of praise for his fellow Tech 3 rider.

"Congratulations to Colin because he rode a great race and deserved a podium."