James Toseland has promised to end the 25-year British drought in Grand Prix racing and emulate Barry Sheene, the former world champion, after signing a deal to move into Moto GP next year.

The Sheffield-born World Superbikes rider announced his two-year contract with the Yamaha Tech 3 team on Wednesday and admits he is thrilled by the prospect of becoming the first British rider to win a race in motorcycling’s premier event since Sheene’s 1981 win in Sweden.

Sheene - who died from cancer in 2003 - twice won the title in the 1970s but the last 25 years has seen a winless run which Toseland is keen to end.

“It was just an offer I couldn’t refuse and I want to be the first British rider to be competitive in GPs since the late Barry Sheene," he said. “I never got to see any of his racing but you can’t get away from the fact that he was the last true household name in British motorcycling.

“Carl Fogarty’s World Superbikes career was obviously outstanding but publicity-wise Sheene was the number one biking hero and the last Brit to make a success of Grand Prix racing. That’s what everyone wants and needs and I hope I can deliver it. I was one year old when Sheene won the last race by a Brit and I’ve worked hard for the last 10 years to be given this chance to emulate him.”

Toseland heads into Sunday’s 10th round of the World Superbike championship at Brands Hatch with a commanding 43-point lead over Suzuki rider Max Biaggi and admitted that while it was a wrench to leave his HANNspree Honda team a works Moto GP ride was too good to turn down.

“I’m 26 now and it’s the right time to move. All I wanted was a competitive ride and I’ve got that," he added. “The only thing to be decided is which tyres I’ll be running but it’s a great package. It’s a 2008 Yamaha and it’s not a million miles away from what Valentino Rossi will be riding.”

Britain has been without a rider in Moto GP this season and former Superbike riders Neil Hodgson and Shayne ’Shakey’ Byrne endured frustrating rides in the series in recent years on second-rate machinery.

“The packages Neil and Shakey chose were just not competitive," Toseland said. "Their riding ability is unquestionable but unfortunately they never had the right bike. Age was also a factor as the first chance they got came at an age where they couldn’t turn it down.

“They gave their best and tried to climb the ladder but that is very difficult to do in Moto GP - you either succeed or you don’t. I had an option to go last year but I didn’t think it was right for me so I stayed in World Superbikes.

“It’s not about just going to be called a Moto GP rider - I want to go and be successful. But at the moment all I’m thinking about is winning the Superbikes title for the second time with Honda - starting with a double win at Brands on Sunday.”

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