James Toseland confirmed at BMW Italia

James Toseland confirmed at BMW for 2011 World Superbike season.

28 Oct 2010

Toseland, Imola WSBK 2010
© Gold and Goose

Former double World Superbike champion James Toseland has officially been confirmed at BMW Motorrad Italia for the 2011 season.

The British star, ninth in the standings on his return to WSBK with Yamaha this season, will ride alongside Ayrton Badovini, who dominated the Superstock 1000 Cup with BMW Italia in 2010.

BMW Italia will receive technical support from the official BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory team, running Troy Corser and Leon Haslam.

"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," said Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad.

"Last year in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, BMW Motorrad Italia demonstrated their ability to achieve success with the BMW S 1000 RR 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."

"After winning the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, we are continuing with a renewed challenge in the sporting arena," added Andrea Buzzoni, director of BMW Motorrad Italia. "We planned this ambitious project with enthusiasm and determination and we are happy to find the same enthusiasm in BMW AG's top management.

"Our Italian squad will receive technical support from Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The collaboration between the two teams will allow a profitable exchange of experience, know-how, solutions and ideas for development, all with the common objective of constantly improving performance.

"We are delighted to be able to assure Ayrton, who has given us such satisfaction in our racing competition debut, a well-deserved promotion.

"Ayrton will be riding alongside two-time world champion James Toseland, who has shown great motivation and enthusiasm for the project."

Toseland won the 2004 WSBK title for Ducati and the 2007 WSBK crown for Ten Kate Honda. During eight WSBK seasons the 30-year-old has taken 61 podiums and 16 wins.

Toseland raced for Tech 3 Yamaha in MotoGP during the 2008 and 2009 season.