BMW Italia joins Superbike ranks

From worldsbk.com

Team BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike has now stepped up to join the 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship, and the team will field the current Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Champion Ayrton Badovini and double World WSBK champion James Toseland.

The team, the current champions in Superstock with Badovini, will have technical support from the BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory team, which is providing engines and electronics for the BMW S1000RR.

Andrea Buzzoni, the Director of BMW Motorrad Italia and the manager of the new Superbike project will lead the team. Serafino Foti will serve as Sporting Director and Gerardo Acocella will be the Technical Director. Exciting prospect Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA) will run for the team in the Superstock 1000 class.

Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad stated, "From next season, our BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory team will be joined in the FIM Superbike World Championship by a factory-supported BMW line-up in the shape of the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK team. The team has experience in motor racing, and in this championship specifically.

"Last year in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, BMW Motorrad Italia demonstrated their ability to achieve success with the BMW S1000RR, and in impressive fashion. Although the challenge in the Superbike World Championship is that much tougher, I'm convinced that BMW Motorrad will benefit from this new addition to the field. After all, competition is the lifeblood of business. We would like to wish the team every success."