Redline takes KTM to British Superbikes

The British Superbike Championship will welcome a new manufacturer to the fold in 2010 after it was confirmed that KTM will be present in the Evo category.

The iconic Austrian brand has been a recognisable feature of the BSB support class for the last two seasons having run the one-make RC8 class, but with the Super Cup not running this year, top outfit Redline Motorcycles will take the name to BSB instead.

The team will enter the fight for the inaugural Evo title and continue to support James Edmeades, who will assume rider duties having finished fifth in the RC8 standings last year.

"We ran KTMs in the RC8 Super Cup last year and during the season KTM saw how the team worked and with the one-make series not running in 2010 they wanted to continue to be part of BSB," Edmeades told the BSB website.

"The new Evo class is a great opportunity to promote both KTM and Redline Motorcycles and we will have a competitive bike to fight for the first Evo title. We have followed KTM's efforts in the IDM Championship and so when we were looking at this year and what to do next Evo was the obvious choice.

"We have several tests planned before the start of the season and obviously BSB has more track time than I am used to from racing in the RC8 series so I am confident we can get it right and be competitive at every event. It is an exciting time for the whole team and we want to make an impression in the first year of the Evo class."

Although KTM is best-known for its success on the off-road stage, the manufacturer has leaned towards road racing in recent years to compete in the German-based IDM Superbike series in a works-capacity.

For team owner Tim Walker, switching to BSB is a 'natural progression' for the team and one that should enhance KTM's image on the Superbike scene.

"For sure this is an exciting time for everyone involved in this project; myself the team, KTM and of course James. Redline Motorcycles has been a KTM dealer for 18 years and racing has always been my passion so to enter the Evo class for this year is great news for us all.

"We don't doubt that this is a big project but we have been racing in the KTM one-make series' for the past two seasons so to move to a different class is a natural progression. It is important to maintain the promotion of the KTM brand in BSB and maximise it to its full potential."

KTM will be the sixth manufacturer participating in the British Superbike Championship in 2010, along with Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki. Edmeades is the sixth rider confirmed to the Evo class.