Tech3 Yamha boss Herve Poncharal has set his sights on bringing Ben Spies to MotoGP in 2010 after his outstanding World Superbike debut races, winning three out of four races.

Poncharal is almost certain to inherit the three-times AMA Superbike Champion as Rossi is contracted to Fiat Yamaha for two years and Jorge Lorenzo has been groomed as his successor. Spies himself won't be in a big hurry to leave the marque, either.

According to our colleagues at motogpmatters.com, the Frenchman had talks with Spies last year, as he did with Marco Simoncelli, and reckons it's obvious the man from Memphis will be in MotoGP next season.

"It's obvious that he's an exceptional rider. I want to have him for 2010! We talked to him last year, just as we did with Simoncelli. Ben Spies has made a big impression so far, he has more than earned a place in MotoGP. It's obvious to me that he'll be there in 2010, and I hope it will be with us," said Poncharal.

None of this bodes very well for Britain's James Toseland. Unless the two-times World Superbike Champion pulls his Bridgestones up, he may well find himself busted across to World Superbikes, or down to British Superbikes next season.