Toseland targets title

World Superbike champion James Toseland has set his sights on a move to MotoGP next year.

The Sheffield-born rider became the youngest World Superbike champion in history last season when he triumphed at a tense final round in France.

Now he wants to retain his title before moving on to grand prix racing, where he would lock horns with the likes of four-time champion Valentino Rossi.

Toseland starts the new season, which begins this month in Qatar, as favourite after snubbing a move to MotoGP for 2005 in favour of staying on at the Ducati team, now renamed Xerox Ducati. He revealed only a top ride in MotoGP will convince him to leave World Superbikes after 2003 champion Neil Hodgson’s troubles in an under-funded team last season.