LONDON -- James Toseland forfeited his childhood dream of becoming a concert pianist for a motorbike racing career but the sacrifice has paid off in more ways than one.

By winning his first World Superbike race last month, the 22-year-old Toseland not only proved himself as a championship hopeful, he also collected a Steinway grand piano.

His Ducati team chairman John Jones had jokingly suggested the incentive last season -- Toseland would get a grand piano as a reward for his first Superbike victory -- and the British rider enjoyed his maiden win in Oschersleben, Germany.

"It was fantastic," Toseland told Reuters. "John was a man of his word. We went shopping in London at the Steinway shop and bought the most expensive piano there."

But the gift came at a price, he said.

"It cost me a lot winning this race. I don't have enough space in my apartment and am having to build a bigger place to fit the piano."

The Yorkshireman, who has suffered numerous setbacks from injuries in five seasons of superbike racing, has always felt torn between his first love, the piano, and his motorbike.

"As a boy, I had it all worked out with playing the piano. I was going to take lessons and do it," Toseland said.

"It was a little boy's dream until I jumped on a motorbike at nine and the piano has always taken second best since then."

"I will have a good, long career in racing but I will keep up the piano and I would like to start writing my own stuff for it," said Toseland, a grade six pianist, who wants to try to pass the remaining two certificates as well.

For now, his mind is set solely on racing success.

"I wanted to be world champion about five years ago. Realistically, I will have to be thinking about it next year."

Toseland, the youngest racer in the World Superbike series, hopes to finish this season in the top two in the overall standings. But he slipped to third place when he had to retire with a split fuel line from the last race in Misano, Italy, 10 days ago.

"I am getting better and better this year. If I can finish in the top two I will be very pleased.

"I will almost certainly be in Superbike for the next year but if I can take the championship then, the MotoGP will be in the back of my mind," Toseland said.

"I am sure there will be some good offers from great teams if I do well this season and next."

MotoGP series racers ride specially constructed bikes, while superbikers race on production bikes.

Toseland, who cites his bike's speed and power as the most enjoyable aspect of motorcycling, still plays the piano every day, both for relaxation and as part of a band called "Crash".

"The name is a bit ironic but I hope that it will not be the theme of the season," he said.

His band hits all the right notes with his mother, who would love to see Toseland take up the safer career of pianist, he said.

"She still can't watch my races and she would love it if I stopped racing and took up the piano as a career tomorrow."

Toseland is not as fearful, taking risks to beat his friend and championship leader Neil Hodgson in Germany.

"Neil is riding with a lot of confidence but hopefully before the end of the season I can beat him again," said Toseland, who will hope to repeat the feat at the next race in Laguna Seca in the United States on July 13.

"We will certainly have a good battle there. I like the U.S. and I am looking forward to going," Toseland said.

"The track there is a bit hairy but that is why I like it."