James Toseland's Ten Kate Honda team rule out 2008 MotoGP move

If James Toseland is to move to MotoGP it will not be with his current Hannspree Ten Kate World Superbike squad as they have ruled out making a bid to enter the 2008 MotoGP world championship.

The Dutch-based squad have been rumoured to have submitted a formal request to HRC for the lease of an RC212V 800cc machine next season.

But Ronald Ten Kate confirmed to MCN at last weekend’s Dutch MotoGP in Assen the team had conducted an internal study on the requirements needed to move to the premier class, but no official approach had been made to Honda.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda is currently pressing ahead with its World Superbike and Supersport plans which involve increasing its entry to four FireBlades in next year’s World Superbike series.

The team will undergo further expansion in 2009 with plans in place to run four bikes in the World Supersport series.

Ronald Ten Kate told MCN: “The chances of us being here (MotoGP) are minimised because the satellite superbike and supersport teams are our priority. There is still time to put in an official request for MotoGP but we haven’t launched it.

“We have just discussed from the beginning of this year, well gathered all the information necessary to arrive in MotoGP. From the outside every now and then it appears to be impossible. But then you really start to see how things are and make the budget for things.

“You keep hearing rumours that you have to have 15 million Euros to run a two-rider team in MotoGP. My calculations are not so good anymore but this is just a lot of bull.”

There are also current rumours that Ronald Ten Kate is looking to switch to MotoGP in 2009, ideally with Toseland as the rider.

MCN understands Hannspree, title sponsors of Ten Kate, will be official backers of the World Superbike series in 2008 and they are rumoured to have told Ten Kate and Toseland they will bankroll a MotoGP effort for both to continue their successful relationship in 2009.

But Ronald Ten Kate said: “I can’t comment on that.”

James Toseland is currently the subject of intense speculation about his future, with the British rider admitting he is coming close to judgement day when he must decide on whether to stay in World Superbikes or quit to join MotoGP next season.