James Toseland's efforts to rebuild his MotoGP season after an unhappy homecoming were undermined by problems with his Tech 3 Yamaha yesterday. The Sheffield rider has had to fend off allegations that he took his eye off the ball last week, playing a gig with his band, Crash, on the eve of qualifying for the British Grand Prix, then crashing on the first bend in the race. It was a return to earth in more ways than one after a remarkable start to his rookie year in MotoGP.

Toseland was glad that the calendar threw up another race immediately. He impressed in the mixed weather conditions in practice for today's Dutch TT but slumped to thirteenth in qualifying. For a man who has fast become accustomed to the front row of the grid and mixing it with the world title contenders, it was a modest return and the inquisition went on for more than an hour in the garage.

The inquest into last week's events is also continuing. Did Toseland overdo it? In the build-up to the race it was put to him that his schedule, including a charity bicycle ride, dinner at the RAC Club in London and two gigs was putting him in danger of burnout. “I'll sleep on Sunday,” he said.

As it turned out, the day's events would keep him awake. “I don't go along with it being too much pressure,” he said. “I said I thought I could make the podium because I believed it, but things just did not work out. I left myself with too much to do in the race because of the problems in qualifying and then tried too hard too soon.”

In embarrassing circumstances, Toseland still put in a gutsy ride after his crash. He remounted his bike, despite having hit the kerb and having injured a hand and his head in falling. He was also missing a foot peg, so had to balance his foot on the exhaust. “I had to carry on for the fans,” he said.

Toseland was even upstaged by another Briton, with Scott Redding, 15, winning the 125cc race, but he made sure that he passed on his congratulations. He then stewed on his error - a result of pushing too hard to make up lost grid positions - and met a young fan on his departure from Donington Park. They spoke, cried and Toseland handed over his bespoke St George's flag leathers.

It could have been worse yesterday, because others had more serious struggles on the Assen circuit. Loris Capirossi failed to make it to qualifying after a crash in which his footpeg scooped the flesh from a forearm. “The problem was that when I crashed the bike came on top of me and now I've got this hole in my arm,” the Italian said.

There was another accident later when John Hopkins, riding with a fractured vertebra, fell from his Kawasaki at 150mph. He lay motionless as marshals rushed to his aid, raising fears that something awful had happened, but escaped with a broken ankle.

Jorge Lorenzo, the Fiat Yamaha rookie who has ridden with two broken ankles this season, dredged the core of his resilience to post the seventh quickest time as he tries to bounce back from concussion. If Toseland needs proof of the volatility of MotoGP, that trio provide it.

At the front it looks as though Casey Stoner and Ducati will dominate today's race. Stoner has been peerless in the Netherlands, although Dani Pedrosa, the Repsol Honda rider, was only three-hundredths of a second adrift yesterday. Valentino Rossi, who leads Pedrosa by 11 points in the standings and makes a record-equalling 201st successive grand prix start today, completes the front row.

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