James Toseland insists he has a 'winning mindset' as he prepares for his debut in MotoGP in two months' time.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a stunning year in 2007 which saw him win his second World Superbike Championship and finish fourth in BBC's Sports Personality of the Year.

This year he has moved to motorcycling's premier class with the Tech 3 Yamaha squad and is hoping to become the first Briton to win a grand prix since Barry Sheene's triumph in Sweden way back in 1981.

Toseland said: "It was a big decision to move into MotoGP. I was settled, I was happy after seven years in World Superbikes and I was competitive in every race.

"To give up that nest egg and take on the toughest challenge of my life was a huge risk but I feel I have a great opportunity here.

"After the first few tests on the bike I now know that the challenge is do-able. I want to be somewhere near the front and I have the mindset that I am going to win in MotoGP.

"That could happen this year, next year or whenever but I am going to keep climbing the ladder and see where it takes me."

Toseland will next ride his new machine in a test in Malaysia at the end of January, ahead of the first race of the season in Qatar on March 9 - which will be the first ever grand prix to take place under floodlights.

He added: "I'm happy with my progress so far and by the time I take the grid in Qatar I will be competitive."

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