Although he was overshadowed by fellow rookies Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, both of whom graduated from the 250GP class, Toseland's performances in the early part of the season ensured he will be back on the MotoGP grid in 2009.

With the benefit of greater knowledge, particularly where set-up is concerned, Wright has high hopes for his former protégé, predicting that he will be challenging for a top five finish overall.

“Next year, when they are all on equal tyres, James will be even stronger, so I expect him to finish in the top five next season,” he added. “He will probably say he wants to be in the top three, but the thing with MotoGP is the harder you try, the harder it is, and that has been proven this year.

“In times when he has struggled with set-up, he has pushed harder and fallen off, or gone backwards, but what he has to do now is find the consistency he had in World Superbikes and he will be in the top five.”