Toseland ready to rock Donington on home return.

by Russell Atkins

World Superbike Championship pace-setter James Toseland may be a leading light on the race track, but he is also a man of hidden talents, as his role within rock band Crash goes to show.

The 26-year-old - a classically-trained pianist as well as a two-wheeled star - has for the past few years been a singer and keyboard player with the group, playing as and when he can to fit in around his racing commitments. Though he confesses to being something of an old rocker himself, the whole arrangement came about rather by chance.

"I've played the piano all my life," he told Crash.net during a break from an exclusive gig held in London earlier this month to promote the forthcoming Donington Park round of WSBK this weekend, the first of three British meetings on the 2007 calendar. "My gran plays it and she taught me to play.

"I met the band I now play with in Newquay in 1998. I was on holiday with some friends staying in a caravan park, and they were doing the summer season down there. They were called Shazoom, and the lead singer recognised me and came up to me in the bar to introduce himself. It turned out he was a bit of a racing fanatic.

"We kept in touch, the keyboard player later quit which obviously left a big hole to fill, and when they found out I played the piano I just fitted in nicely. It started from there really. We've all been together about four years now."

The Sheffield-born ace - World Superbike Champion three years ago and currently leading the series by some 16 points - did, however, have one reservation: the name. Thus, he explains, is how 'Crash' was born.

"I was just a bit conscious about being introduced to all these bikers - they are the loveliest people you could ever meet but as you can imagine they are also a mean old bunch - with them staring at us in their leather jackets and tattoos and us announcing ourselves as a band called Shazoom!" he joked. "It sounds like the Village People doesn't it? I thought it sounded a bit camp, so rather than risk getting things thrown at us the lead singer said let's call it something to do with the racing.

"We went from Pitlane to Chequered Flag and all sorts, then I just said 'why not Crash?' I did say if I go to the next race and fall off four times we're changing it, but ever since we've called the band Crash, touchwood the crashes haven't been too bad."

Although the band's impressive repertoire covers artists of the ilk of Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Van Morrison and Guns n' Roses, James' own musical influences and inspirations are somewhat different.

"Jools Holland is a big hero of mine when it comes to piano-playing," he explained, "and Elton John's song-writing for the piano is awesome. Jamie Cullum is a star as well - people like him have made piano-playing a little bit cooler nowadays. I'm not saying Richard Clayderman isn't cool, but he didn't really bring the rock and roll into piano-playing did he?"

Though he is adamant his racing will always take priority - as the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda star bids to add to his 2004 laurels by lifting the WSBK crown at the end of the year - Toseland does admit the band is a welcome off-track diversion.

"All the boys like rock and roll," he said, "and that's perfect for motorcycling events. My sponsors and other people book the band because I play in it and am connected to the racing. I like rock and roll anyhow.

"I just enjoy playing and singing. The piano has always been a relief for me; the riding can get pretty intense. Before this I hadn't played with the band or sung for about two months with the racing season having just started, so I don't get to play that often, but it's such a pleasure to play with this standard of musicians as a hobby. They are professionals but playing with me is a hobby for them as well, and it's just nice to have this outside of the racing."

For more information on the band, visit: http://www.crash-band.co.uk