Bennetts-backed world champion secures top ten honour

The BBC has announced its ten-person shortlist for the 2007 Sports Personality of the Year accolade – and Bennetts-backed James Toseland has made the grade. The 2007 World Superbike Champion has enjoyed unprecedented success this year with his first ever double win on home soil at Brands Hatch in the summer and the overall championship victory for the second time in his career.

The 27-year-old Yorkshireman is now relying on fans’ votes to give him a strong chance of gaining the national honour of being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. As the only motorcycle racer in contention for the prestigious title, James faces strong competition from popular sporting heroes including Jonny Wilkinson, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Lewis Hamilton and Paula Radcliffe.

Voting does not close until the evening of the final event on Sunday 9 December. The register votes for James, please visit www.bbc.co.uk for further details.

Bennetts – the UK’s number 1 for bike insurance* – secured personal sponsorship of James midway through the 2007 racing season and have already pledged to continue supporting the double world champion in his 2008 MotoGP campaign. The Isle of Man resident is currently the only British rider confirmed for the starting grid of the premier class of motorcycle racing next year.

“We have enjoyed a fantastic season with James,” says Bennetts Marketing Director, Mark Fells. “He is a genuinely nice guy and an exceptional motorcycle racer. For him to end the year with this additional achievement would be unprecedented in the motorcycle industry, so it would be great to see him receive some much deserved support and put motorcycling firmly on the map in the UK.”