World class motorcycle racing star James Toseland (pictured) is to be the after dinner guest speaker at the 2010 Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators annual dinner on Friday 12th March at the Hilton Hotel, Douglas.
James, also a classically-trained pianist, will entertain on the keyboard and be interviewed by Ron Berry from 3FM. Malcolm Couch, Assessor of Income Tax, has also accepted an invitation to participate and give a brief update on the current situation in relation to the international tax situation.
Toseland's Race to Victory
James, the youngest ever World Superbike Champion at just 23 years old, has rocketed into a league of biking legends, following in the footsteps of Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson.
Despite his relative youth, the Doncaster-born rider has more racing experience under his leathers than some of the series' other veterans. Early competition in trials and motocross awarded him an impressive haul of trophies and ultimately laid the foundations of a promising career in road racing.
James quickly worked his way up through the ranks of 125cc racing and into British Supersport and shone in the European Championship.
However, it was in 1998, at the tender age of 17, when he was given his big break and was chosen by Castrol Honda to ride the CBR600 in the World Supersport series.
Never one to turn down a challenge, over the next two seasons, James finished 18th and 11th overall before returning to Britain to ride in the 2000 British Superbike Championship.
Since then, James has emerged as a world-class rider. In only his second year in the World Superbike series in 2002, he made his name as a regular top-six finisher and scored his first-ever podium finish at Assen. In 2003, he ended fellow Brit Hodgson's winning streak with an impressive win at Oschersleben and earned his first pole position in the final round at Magny-Cours.
An extraordinary 2004 season with Ducati followed, with James making the history books as the youngest-ever World Superbike Champion. Despite a relatively tough 2005 season with the Ducati team, James bounced back in 2006 to take second position overall with Winston Ten Kate Honda.
2007 heralded his seventh consecutive and final year as a permanent fixture on the Superbike grid. After a thrilling season of racing, James once again lifted the World Superbike crown, with a winning margin of just two points over Noriyuki Haga. The win ensured James left the World Superbike stage in the best possible manner.
For 2008/9, the two-time WSBK champion tested his talents on the MotoGP circuit before returning to World Superbikes for 2010 with the Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike Team. James has now taken his rightful place in the spotlight as one of the most successful British riders of his generation.
International Career of Taxation Expert
The evening's second speaker, Malcolm Couch, Assessor of Income Tax of the Isle of Man, is responsible for all direct taxation matters in the Island and internationally. Malcolm joined the Isle of Man Government in November 2004 and concentrates primarily on policy, strategy and international matters: including representing the Isle of Man at OECD and EU forums and negotiating tax co-operation agreements.
Prior to his Isle of Man role, Malcolm was Oil Products Tax Manager of the North Latin America and Caribbean Region of Royal Dutch Shell.
In this position, he was responsible for the tax planning and strategy of over 20 group companies operating in 35 jurisdictions, and for managing fiscal audits, and also took part in global tax projects for Shell.
The evening will conclude with a charity raffle in support of Spinal Research, which is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck.
Kim Corlett, ICSA IOM Chairman, "We are delighted that James has agreed to bring his unique presence and talents and join us for the evening, which will also be raising money for the Spinal Research Charity and would encourage all – Chartered Secretaries and indeed other James Toseland fans – to book early for what we are aiming to be a sell-out event.
"We are equally grateful to Malcolm Couch and Ron Berry for agreeing to participate in the evening."
Tickets for the event are ?35 each, with corporate tables available. The evening will begin with reception drinks at 7.30pm.
For ticket availability, please contact Julie Ronan, Cronk Brae, Plantation Road, Port St Mary, IM9 5AY, or email icsa(at)manx.net by Monday 1st March.
