Thorpe joins CCM.

British Motocross legend Dave Thorpe has become sporting director for CCM Racing.

The triple 500cc world champion, who has already had some insight into CCM's return to the international sporting arena through his training of Oliver Sandiford-Smith this season, has been impressed with the impact the team has had on the motocross scene during the first half of this year.

Thorpe's new role within the British based team will be key in taking the newly formed squad to the next level, and seeing them take the major step of competing in the entire World championship in 2009.

Thorpe will be given a leading role in forming the shape of the CCM team as it focuses on its plan of making a full assault on the 2009 World championship in both MX1 and MX2, plus continuing its pursuit of making its mark on the British series.

In addition to recruiting a new team manager and key personnel, Thorpe will also be responsible for selecting suitable riders that can meet the team's goals moving forward. David will be directly involved with both the physical training of these riders, plus assisting with improving their riding techniques.

"From what I have seen so far, CCM are serious about moving their team to the next level," said Thorpe. "It is great for me to have the chance to work with a British team that is hungry for World success. I am confident over the coming months that I can put the right things in place to make CCM a real contender both at World and British level. It is an exciting challenge and one that motivates me greatly."

CCM is aiming to benefit from Thorpe's undisputed pedigree and incredible work ethic, which netted him three 500cc World titles during the 1980s.

"It is a real privilege to have Dave on board," stated Gary Harthern, CCM's managing director. "We believe he will be as important to CCM as Stefan Everts has been to KTM. I think having Thorpe in the team, really signals just how committed we are to making this project work. He has our total support and his input will be valued on all aspects of the team and its functions."

CCM will provide Thorpe with his own factory CCM MX450 to conduct his winter training camps and to compete in the selected events in which he chooses to ride. The Bolton based firm will be looking to the former world champion to assist them with identifying the correct technical partners who will allow CCM to successfully challenge for top honours at the highest level of the sport.

Following the conclusion of his own grand prix career, Thorpe has continued to be involved in the sport through a series of different roles. Before managing his own world championship team during the late nineties, Thorpe also had the honour of being the manager of Britain's winning Motocross Des Nations team in 1994.

In more recent years Thorpe has returned to racing himself, but purely for fun, prior to being persuaded to compete in the FIM Veteran World Championship last season.

Despite having been absent from the international stage for over a decade, Thorpe showed he had lost none of his desire for success and none of his graceful style, by netting an emotional fourth World title in front of thousands of his still loyal fans at Donington Park last summer.

Following his runner's up position at last weekend's British Grand Prix, Thorpe currently holds second place in this year's World Veteran series - for Honda - with just one round remaining.

Ironically it was at Mallory Park that Dave agreed terms with CCM, prior to doing battle with CCM's Greg Hanson during an epic first moto encounter between the two long-standing rivals.