James Toseland made to wait for 2009 Yamaha debut

James Toseland will have to wait until the end of November at the earliest before he gets his first chance to assess Yamaha’s 2009 factory MotoGP machine.

Toseland and Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate will not take part in a two-day test session immediately after the final race in Valencia later this month, with the pair due back on track in Jerez at the end of November.

But there is a question mark over Toseland’s participation in that test, with the Tech 3 squad not expecting to take delivery of the 2009 YZR-M1 until the first test of next year at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

The British rider, looking to build on his superb sixth place in Phillip Island at this weekend’s Malaysia clash, said: “I don’t think it is going to be possible for us to test at Valencia.

“Obviously Valentino is the best person to test at the moment, he is not only world champion but he is also got experience on the tyres it looks like we will be running next year.

“If he can get the 2009 package working as well as possible on those tyres then obviously that is encouraging for me as well.”