Toseland is looking to improve on his early season finishes (Getty)

Sheffield's James Toseland is confident he will soon be celebrating his first podium finish in MotoGP.

Toseland is now riding a new Tech 3 Yamaha bike and has told BBC Radio Sheffield he expects a top three finish within the next few weeks.

"With the new engine it's really a package that's capable of being on the podium," he said.

The two-times World Superbike champion's highest Moto GP finish so far has been sixth.

Toseland started his MotoGP campaign on a 2007 Yamaha and he admits it was holding him back.

"With the old engine I really felt that I'd rode the bike to the limit," he said.