BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet WSB team launched

The BMW Motorrad Italia WSB squad launched their new look team and title sponsor at Monza on Tuesday. The Italian team entered the World Superbike championship in 2011 after signing two time world champion James Toseland and 2010 Superstock champion Ayrton Badovini.

The season was a mixture of highs and lows and while Toseland crashed heavily in testing which ultimately resulted in career ending injuries, Badovini showed his potential and the expertise of the team finishing his rookie season in tenth place with a best result of fourth at Misano.

For 2012 Badovini stays with the team where he will be joined by former Xerox Ducati and Alstare Suzuki man Michel Fabrizio. The 27 year old Italian has a total of 29 podiums including four race wins to his credit.

The team will once again be supported by BMW Motorrad and remain an official satellite team while having the benefit of proven engineers and mechanics from the former factory Ducati squad.

The two man Superbike team will be flanked by another strong Superstock 1000 effort. In 2011 the team secured third and fourth in the standings thanks to Lorenzo Zanneti and Sylvan Barrier. In 2012 Frenchman, Barrier will stay with the team and is joined by Italian Lorenzo Baroni.