Yamaha World Superbike star Eugene Laverty thinks that 2012 is the ideal time to make a switch to MotoGP as the series will run 1000cc engines next season which puts the young Irishman well and truly in the frame - so long as he can fight off Bradley Smith.

Laverty, along with Andrea Iannone, Randy De Puniet and Stefan Bradl, have been mentioned with regard to the soon-to-be-ex Colin Edwards bike with Smith seeming to have first refusal but Laverty hasn't given up.

Eugene: “Upon receiving the news I thought it a good idea to travel to Brno to visit the MotoGP paddock. I've been in talks with Herve Poncharal and I've made no secret of the fact that this would be my number one choice for next year if the opportunity arises," said the Toomebridge man.

“Tech 3 Yamaha are in my opinion head and shoulders above the rest of the privateer teams and on top of that I feel really at home within the Yamaha family. With MotoGP switching to 1000cc next year it would be the perfect time to make the jump to the top class.

“For now though my focus is on the final four races of the World Superbike Championship and I haven't given up on third in the championship just yet. We'll need eight strong finishes to have any chance of chasing down Max or Marco so I'll see what I can do.”