Monster Yamaha's James Toseland has said he believes the ride-through penalty and subsequent black flag he was handed from race direction for jumping the start at Laguna Seca's MotoGP round was harsh.

The two-times World Superbike Champion added that he couldn't see when he jumped the start and didn't come in as he never looks at his pit-board that early into a race.

“There's not much I can say really other than it was a tough weekend. I feel like the jump start was pretty harsh. I knew it was close but I didn't think I'd jumped the start and that early in a 32-lap race I'm not looking at my pitboard," said Toseland.

"I was just concentrating on catching the guy in front and the first thing I realised that I'd been penalised was when I saw the black flag and my number. Obviously if I'd known I'd jumped the start then I would have come in but I've watched the TV replay and you can't see anything.

"I didn't gain any places either so in my opinion it's pretty harsh. It's a setback but I've just got to get on with it and bounce back in Germany.”