MotoGP Exclusive: James Toseland signs 2009 Tech 3 Yamaha contract

British rider James Toseland is likely to confirm later on today that he has signed a contract with the Tech 3 Yamaha deal for the 2009 MotoGP world championship campaign.

The 27-year-old had an option in his current contract to extend for 2009 that expired in September, but months ahead of schedule he has already clinched a new deal, MCN can reveal.

• See Toseland’s latest video diary here

Official confirmation of the extended deal will be released later on today in Estoril, where Toseland is preparing to make his debut on Yamaha’s new pneumatic valve engine.

Whirlwind negotiations to extend the double World Superbike champion’s contract after only two races comes on the back of his hugely impressive start in MotoGP with Herve Poncharal’s French-based Tech 3 squad.

He has already scored two top finishes and a front row start on his debut in Qatar.
For more on this story and full coverage of the Estoril GP, see Wednesday’s (April 16) edition of MCN.