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Toseland set for MotoGP switch
World Superbikes (WSBK) rider James Toseland has signed a deal to ride for Yamaha's Tech 3 team next season in MotoGP, after over a year of speculation about his future.
The Yorkshireman had long been courted by MotoGP teams and had already rejected a move to Pramac D'antin Ducati prior to this season, while Suzuki was also rumoured to be lining him up to ride alongside Chris Vermeulen.
However, it is Yamaha that has won the race for the Ten Kate Honda rider's signature, although with Toseland currently leading the WSBK championship, he is determined to go out with a bang before making the changeover.
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He told the Telegraph: "Whatever happens next year, winning the Superbike title for a second time is so important to me - all of the speculation that has been around me has made me nervous but, believe me, currently the most important thing to me is to win this title.
"Then I have to take up the challenge and step up, but I've only decided to do that because I have a package that will be competitive and enable me to achieve my goal."
Following the withdrawal of Ilmor and its veteran Northern Irish rider Jeremy McWilliams from the competition after just one race this year, there is currently no British participation in MotoGP.
Toseland's arrival would change this and the 26-year-old is more than happy to take the hopes of a nation upon his shoulders, vowing that "we need to have a British rider up there and I won't rest until I've done my best to be that".
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