The super-fit 27-year-old, who has muscled bulky 1000cc Superbikes around the race track for the past seven seasons, has set the target - which will boost his power-to-weight ratio out on track - after completing his first two tests on the smaller 800cc MotoGP machine. 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden came to a similar conclusion last season.

The Englishman plans to lose the weight by reducing his gym training and replacing it with an increased amount of road cycling - for which personal sponsor Bennetts presented him with a Pinarello Prince bike, featuring a #52 on a Tour de France-style number plate, during a staff meet and greet.

"I'm already enormously grateful to Bennetts for their continued support, but this really is the icing on the cake," said Toseland. "Usually I like to try to enjoy the festive period at Christmas and then kick-start my training in the New Year, but I'm stepping things up a level this year.

"My new regime for MotoGP has already started. My 2007 Ten Kate Honda team-mate Sebastien Charpentier is a fantastically accomplished cyclist so he has given me some invaluable tips that I hope to put to good practice.

"I'm fortunate to be moving into MotoGP and I want to reward the fans and my sponsors, like Bennetts, with strong performances. My aim is to be a British rider that the UK can be proud of, like Barry Sheene,"he added.

"We're delighted to have been able to congratulate James with something that will prove invaluable to him over the next year, and especially in the coming months," said Bennetts marketing director Mark Fells.