MotoGP want Toseland

James Toseland’s winning start to the WSB season has put him at the top of Honda’s MotoGP shopping list for 2008.

Satellite Honda squads Gresini and LCR have both expressed an interest in the 26-year-old Brit and Toseland’s manager Roger Burnett is heading out to Jerez this weekend to open discussions with the teams.

Toseland has made no secret of his desire to switch to MotoGP. At the end of last season tested Dani Pedrosa’s Honda RCV211 where he impressed Honda bosses with his pace and feedback.

HRC Managing Director Satoru Horiike also reveals in an interview published in today’s MCN (Wednesday, March 21, 2007) he feels it is inevitable that Toseland will move to MotoGP.

Despite the interest Toseland maintains his focus is with WSB and he is currently delighted with both his bike and Ten Kate squad.

He said: “I think it’s every rider’s goal to be in MotoGP, but if I go it has to be on a competitive bike. I had the chance to go this year with the D’Antin Ducati but I know I made the right decision to stay in WSB.

“Superbikes is the championship where I made my name, I am very happy here and I ride for one of the best teams in the paddock.”

MCN has learned Toseland may not have to leave the Ten Kate squad to go to MotoGP as it is rumoured that the Dutch squad are planning to run a team in the MotoGP class in 2008.

Ten Kate would continue to run their highly successful WSB and WSS projects and have recently comprehensively upgraded their work shop facilities.

New sponsor Hannspree are also delighted with the huge exposure Toseland and Ten Kate have given them already this season and are already confirmed for 2008.