Delighted James back on podium

ROTHERHAM'S James Toseland finally returned to the World Superbike podium after a three-year absence in Spain at the weekend - but insists there is plenty of room for improvement.

The 29-year-old, who followed up with a seventh place in race two, has since spent two barren years in premier class MotoGP but the two-time world champion appears to be approaching his best.

Toseland has been suffering from a broken hand sustained in round one at Australia but he insists he felt no ill effects of that and has vowed to continue his revival at Assen later this month.

"It's always nice when the team work so hard to be able to repay them with a result," said Toseland - who rides for Yamaha Sterilgarda.

"It was great though to dig deep and get a podium, my first podium this year and my first for three years - it's been a while since I took a trophy home so I was very happy.

"The team are working unbelievably hard, we've got some issues but we're making up a lot of ground in a short space of time.

"In the second race I got an average start when the clutch grabbed early on the line so that wasn't great. But overall, I'm delighted."