Rain dampens Toseland debut.

The opening day of a two-day Pirelli test session at Valencia gave James Toseland his first chance to sample the Ten Kate Honda CBR1000 Fireblade he will ride in the 2006 World Superbike championship, although wet conditions in Spain severely limited the amount of running as the test got underway.

While Karl Muggeridge elected not to take to the track, 2004 WSBK champion Toseland didn't pass up on the chance to get some time on his new machine ahead of next season and said he was happy with the way the day had gone.

"That was a good first day, really, in spite of the weather," he said. "The team has a good structure and they're a great bunch of guys. Although it was difficult in the conditions, I also got a feel for the balance of the bike and it feels pretty good. You have to be really smooth in the wet and very sensitive with the throttle so it gives you an idea of how the bike is behaving.

"Of course, I would have preferred it to be dry for a chance to get up to speed more quickly; but I still did 30 laps today. We're all hoping for some dry weather tomorrow so we can make a bit more progress."

Dutchman Jurgen van den Goorbergh was also out on the Ten Kate Supersport machine on a day team boss Ronald Ten Kate described as relaxed.

"The weather in Valencia today was not ideal but it gave the team and James a chance to get to know each other and for James to get to know the bike a little," he said. "The rain makes it a bit more relaxed because there's no pressure to go fast straight away. James has made some small adjustments to the riding position and got an early feel for the machine.

"Jurgen is one of a few riders on our shortlist for the second World Supersport ride and the only one who is available to test this week. We've been trying a new specification engine in the CBR and needed to turn the wheels on the bike, so Jurgen is the ideal rider to do that for us."

World Supersport champion S?bastien Charpentier joined Muggeridge in sitting out the opening day.