WSB: Xaus signs for BMW

VISORDOWN told you it was on the cards more than a week ago, and BMW have now officially announced that Ruben Xaus will be spearheading their WSB assault next year.

The Spaniard has signed a two year deal with the German factory to campaign its S 1000 RR bike in World Superbikes.

Executive Vice President Peter Mueller said: "Ever since we announced that we would enter the 2009 Superbike World Championship, there has been a lot of speculation about and interest in our bike and our riders. Everybody has already had some information about our new S1000 RR bike, and today we can reveal one of the riders who will join us in this great adventure next year.

"Ruben is a strong and combative rider, full of enthusiasm and with a passion for racing. This fits our philosophy completely and together we will take on this new challenge.

"We know that the Superbike World Championship is a very hard and competitive series, but we are not entering it just to make up the numbers: we will be taking part because we want to win. Of course, we are starting with a brand new bike but, together with Ruben, we believe we can progress quickly and maybe surprise a few people along the way."

Xaus added: "When I met the BMW guys, I was very impressed by their commitment, their passion for racing and their ideas about the future. We discussed how the WSBK project was going and I realised that I wanted to be a part of it straightaway. It is not often that you get the chance to start a completely new project, but I am really looking forward to the challenge. Although it's going to be tough racing a new bike, I believe BMW will give me a good bike and great support and that's all I ask for."