James Toseland to make Yamaha WSB debut in Portimao test

James Toseland will definitely make his Yamaha R1 World Superbike debut in a test session at the Portimao circuit in Portugal later this month.

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal confirmed in Phillip Island today that he had given permission for the British rider to participate in the Portimao test.

The test will take place immediately after the final WSB race on October 25 and 28-year-old Toseland will fly straight from the Sepang MotoGP to make his R1 debut.

Toseland is moving back to World Superbikes in 2010 having lost his ride with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad.

He will be replaced at Tech 3 by 2009 WSB sensation Ben Spies, who goes into title decider at Portimao trailing Ducati rival Noriyuki Haga by ten-points.

The Texan will make his Yamaha YZR-M1 debut with a special wild card ride in the season’s final MotoGP clash in Valencia on November 8.

Toseland will be joined at the Portimao test by new team-mate Cal Crutchlow, who is moving to World Superbikes from Yamaha’s World Supersport squad.