Portuguese MotoGP, Estoril
Date: 3-4 October
Saturday 3 October: Qualifying: 1250-1600, BBC Red Button/online Sunday 4 October: 250cc race: 1105-1205, BBC Red Button/online Race live: 1230-1400, BBC One/online, MotoGP Extra 1400-1430, Red Button/online, 125cc race: 1430-1530 BBC Red Button/online

Toseland won the World Superbike title in 2004 and 2007

Britain's James Toseland will return to World Superbikes after losing his MotoGP ride with the Yamaha Tech 3 team for next season to American Ben Spies.

The Yorkshireman will take Spies's place in World Superbikes, a class in which he was twice world champion before stepping up to MotoGP last year.

Toseland has struggled for two years and is currently 13th in the standings.

Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal said: "I would like to thank James. It has been a privilege working with him."

In his two years in MotoGP, Toseland, who turns 29 on Monday, has never managed to finish a race higher than sixth.

This year, his chances of success were hampered by two major pre-season crashes which set back his preparations.

606: DEBATE Unlucky for JT - personally I don't think Spies is up to it myself, any good Superbike rider needs at least three seasons to get to grips with it STONEY1979

He admitted he was disappointed at leaving the elite class but was looking forward to showing he was still a world-class rider and was happy to stick with Yamaha.

"I want to show I'm still the rider that can win world titles," he said.

"I know many of the Yamaha World Superbike Team guys, so I'm going to pick up where I left off and give 100% to achieving good results with the team.

"Within Superbike there were a few options available to me, however the way Yamaha have treated me since I joined them has been outstanding. They gave me a great opportunity in MotoGP, but now I do wish Ben all the best in his campaign and my aim is to continue Yamaha's success in World Superbike."

Spies, 25, had been contracted to ride in World Superbikes for Yamaha again in 2010 with a deal to switch with them to MotoGP in 2011, but after impressing with 12 race wins so far this season, he will team up with fellow American Colin Edwards in MotoGP a year early.

He said: "I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me, they have treated me like royalty.

"Yamaha just recently allowed me to re-think my contract for 2010-2011. I did sign for Superbikes for 2010 but I began thinking of the competition and my age and waiting until 2011.

"This was not an easy decision, the Yamaha World Superbike team crew have been fantastic and it's been great fun to put in a season together.

"I am hoping that I can give everyone else a championship to remember this year with me."

Going into this weekend's World Superbike races at Magny-Cours in France, Spies lies just three points behind championship leader Noriyuki Haga.

Poncharal added: "It's a very exciting prospect having a rider of Ben's calibre join our team. Everybody is aware that he is a rider with incredible talent and huge potential.

"Colin and Ben together means Tech 3 will arguably field its strongest ever line-up and everybody in the team can look forward to 2010 with tremendous excitement and optimism."

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