Crash.net columnist Mike Nicks is running an exclusive blog during this weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans - check back regularly to read his behind-the-scenes news...

Saturday am - Toseland Calms the Motor and his Throttle Hand

In an attempt to improve on his frustrating performance in yesterday's second practice session, when he finished only 15th fastest, James Toseland will this morning soften both the power delivery in his Tech 3 Yamaha and his riding technique for the third MotoGP free practice session.

Toseland was getting wheelspin on the exit from corners yesterday, a situation produced by two factors. First, the team went for a hard setup at the rear, and secondly, when the lap times didn't come JT got impatient and became aggressive with the throttle opening.

"The throttle was coming on earlier, so instead of going forward we were spinning and losing traction," his manager Roger Burnett explained outside the Tech 3 garage this morning.

So, the way forward with the bike: a softer setting at the rear, and a softer initial power delivery when the throttle is first opened. And with JT: smoothness, calmness, all the way.

In fact he was only 1.621 seconds slower than the quickest guy Dani Pedrosa yesterday afternoon - acceptable for a first appearance on this 2.6-mile track. But Toseland figures that this is a fairly easy one to learn, so he wants to get up among the top six again where he was running at the early part of the season.

Saturday am - Your Chance to Ask Capirossi and Vermeulen

Want to ask a top MotoGP rider what he thinks of traction control? Want to find out what it feels like to brake from 200mph on a wet track? British race fans will get the chance to question Rizla Suzuki riders Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen when they appear at a MotoGP open evening on June 23, the day after the British MotoGP at Donington Park, at the Crescent Performance Centre in Verwood, Dorset. Ex-racer Keith Huewen will host Q and A sessions at the event, which lasts from 5-9pm.