Toseland: I had to pull out

KIVETON rider James Toseland admitted he had to let his head rule his heart at World Superbike round four in Monza as he pulled out of the race at the 11th hour.

The 30-year-old had to battle massively against the odds just to be in Italy, after having pins removed from his wrist just days before the World Superbike showdown.

After a high speed crash in training ahead of the second round at Donington Park, the trip to Italy was widely expected to be far too soon in the recovery period for Toseland.

But the BMW Motorrad Italia rider defied the odds to line up on the grid, riding nearly 30 laps, in Friday's practice days at the historic Monza track.

However qualifying and race day proved a step too far for Toseland as the Kiveton ace decided that safety - both his and his fellow riders' - had to come first in Italy.

"I did 25 laps on Friday and then in the evening I was feeling a bit rough with the hand and so I called the surgeon with the symptoms and he said that it was best to stop if I could," said Toseland.