By Julian Shea

Toseland expects to mount a serious title challenge in 2008

James Toseland says his sixth-place finish on his MotoGP debut in Qatar on a 2007 model Yamaha proves he will be a serious title contender in 2008.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider said his first run-out gave him many reasons to be optimistic for the season.

"It's been a long time since I was happy with sixth, but it was my first MotoGP and I was only three seconds off the podium," he told BBC Sport.

"If we had a 2008 engine, I'm 99% sure we'd have been on the podium."

Toseland, speaking ahead of his appearance on Sport Relief, added: "If we get everything, which we will in the next two or three races, we'll be competitive."

After a summer of speculation about his chances in MotoGP, the two-time World Superbikes champion qualified second on the grid for his top-class debut.

And anyone thinking he betrayed signs of nerves in his pre-race comments on the starting grid should be thankful they heard anything from him at all.

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"Three or four people asked to speak to me on the grid, but I told my manager I would only speak to the BBC, because the coverage we get is so good," he said.

"I'm really difficult to talk to on the grid as I'm a right miserable git.

"The focus I like to get into before the race doesn't involve talking. Some people like to laugh and joke to get their mind off things to come - I like to get into the zone beforehand to get concentrated.

"Usually I shut down five to 10 minutes before I go onto the grid. I was just a bit more nervous this time because there were more unknowns."

As well as being surrounded by unfamiliar faces, Toseland admits the change in format - from Superbikes' two races to MotoGP's one - will take some getting used to.

"I thought 'this is it kiddo, there's no second chance in this game, you've got to get it right' - in Superbikes, with two races you don't particularly emphasise on one race. If there's a mistake, you think you can rectify if in the next race.

"It's so much more nervous when you're on the front row, especially when you think you could end up being on the podium. You get nervous anticipation, but they're excited nerves."

Being in the middle of the desert, and with the race taking place at night, Qatar was hardly a truly representative example of what Toseland can expect in MotoGP - but he was not complaining.

"There were six English flags up across from my garage, and a few hundred fans who had either come over or lived there," he said.

"There were only about 20,000 fans there, as opposed to 220,000 at the next race at Jerez, so it was a nice warm-up to do a race quietly with not too much of a crowd, to get on with the job before the melee of Jerez."

Toseland is confident of more success this season

Already a cult hero among bike fans, Toseland entered the wider public consciousness in spectacular fashion at last year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, riding on stage on his bike before dismounting to produce a show-stopping display of his other great talent - playing the piano.

And he will be showing off those skills once again on Sport Relief on Friday, when he plays and sings with his band Crash.

But just because his regular working life involves taking his life in his hands at high speed, do not make the mistake of thinking he is taking his latest musical appearance lightly.

It may be less than a week since his debut in the highest class of competition that world motorcycling has to offer, but Toseland is taking his latest musical engagement very seriously.

"Riding a bike is my job, so I know what to do," he said.

"But if you don't think you can do something, you're nervous. I've only been singing with the band for five years, and I've had no coaching.

"When I got past people at 200mph, you can't see a thing. But when there's an audience staring at you, there's a different feeling of nerves.

"I'd rather do a massive race in front of 50 million people and be expected to win than play in front of 50 million people - I'd be much more nervous."