Favorite Sports Guy of The Day: June 10, 2008

James Toseland
From:  Favorite Hunks & Other Things

 Besides his wonderful habit of jumping on his bike Shirtless, James Toseland, is the reigning World Superbike Champion. Toseland, who lives on the Isle of Man (Sounds like a great place to live...) is also a pianist and singer and performs often with his group 'Crash".

 James Michael Toseland (born 5 October 1980) is an English former motorcycle racer. Toseland was the 2007 World Superbike Champion on a Ten Kate Honda, and also won the 2004 Superbike World Championship on a Ducati. He is one of only two men, the other being Troy Corser, to have won the World Superbike Championship for two different manufacturers. On 9 September 2011 he officially retired from professional motorsport due to a wrist injury sustained in March 2011 at an official World Superbike Championship testing session at Motorland Aragon, Spain.

 Aside from racing, Toseland is a keen pianist (reaching Grade 6) and singer-songwriter who, until recently, performed regularly with his band Crash at gigs across the world. However, Toseland is also a talented solo artist and in the past has performed alongside Ray Stubbs for BBC's Sport Relief and played a piano set at the British sports personality of the year awards in 2007.

 Toseland was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. His parents separated when he was young and he was subsequently raised by his mother in Kiveton Park in Rotherham. After his mother started a relationship with Ken Wright, Toseland accepted him as his default father figure, and began taking interest in Wright's hobbies. Toseland began taking piano lessons aged eight, taught by a professional pianist; and he also started riding motocross bikes on the coal slag heaps close to his home. He was taught from Year 7 to Year 11 at Wales High School, located in Kiveton Park.

 Although the family struggled with income, Toseland attended junior trials and motocross events across the UK. However, Wright and Toseland’s mother separated when Toseland was in his early teens and Wright later committed suicide. Toseland kept up his piano lessons, achieving Grade 6 - but not quite enough for him to gain a place at the London College of Music.

 Toseland's engagement to pop singer Katie Melua was announced in January 2012. They were married on September 1, 2012, in the Nash Conservatory, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London.