Silly season hasn’t started only in MotoGP, but it’s also begining in WSBK.
This time the rumor is from Motosprint, one of Italy’s best selling motorcycle weeklies and who has recently added a website with the latest motorcycling news.
It seems that Alstare Suzuki manager, Francis Batta, who is in Japan at the moment deciding next year’s programme, seems to be very interested in lining up James Toseland for their 2010 season.
Toseland is having a very difficult 2009 season in Yamaha Tech 3.
Several massive highsides during winter testing, an ongoing war with team mate Colin Edwards over a crew chief switch and the erection of the wall in the garage and difficulty adjusting to Bridgestone tires, has left the rider struggling and unhappy.
Persisting rumors also have him leaving Poncharal’s team in 2010 to make room for 250cc rider Marco Simoncelli or even Ben Spies, however Toseland has Dorna backing as their token Brit rider and would not like to loose him now that BBC has esclusive rights for televising MotoGP.
With Max Neukirchner already sewn up for 2010 (even if BMW desperately wants him) the return of Toseland to the WSBK series, would allow Batta to create a high profile team that could seriously contend for the title, which they won back in 2005 with Troy Corser.
Toseland is a two times Superbike Champion, winning the title in 2004 with Ducati and in 2007 with Honda Ten Kate.