BMW Motorrad is getting serious. At the Milan motorcycle trade show EICMA in connection with the world premiere of the sports enduro G 450 X, BMW Motorrad Executive Vice President Development and Model Lines Peter Müller announced the official entry of BMW Motorrad in the World Enduro Championship 2008.

Tested and further developed during the 2007 season in a number of race entries, the sports enduro will face up fully to the powerful international competition for the first time in 2008 in two well-known racing series.

Under the management of Racing Director Berti Hauser, the Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport team will be battling for points in the World Enduro Championship (WEC). The services of the following riders have been acquired for this purpose: Anders Eriksson (SWE), seven times World Enduro Championship winner, Jeff Goblet (BEL), three times Belgian Enduro Championship winner and youngster Bert Meyer (GER), winner of the cross Country Championship in 2006 and 2007.

The latter has also blocked a number of other weekends in his 2008 calendar: he will be taking part in all races of the German cross Country Championship in the same team with cross country specialist Simo Kirssi (FIN).

The aim here is to combine the experience of die-hard experts with the youngster’s hunger for success so as to achieve outstanding results through team work.

Anders Eriksson:
“For me this is like a second start in my racing career. The team already demonstrated great professionalism this year. I have now tested the BMW 450 and I am really enthusiastic. I feel highly motivated and of course I am out to achieve good results to show the bike’s potential – as well as demonstrating what an experienced warhorse like myself is capable of.”

Jeff Goblet:
“When I first received the offer from BMW, I was a little unsure at first. Finally, Joel Smets encouraged me to take a closer look at the whole thing. I didn’t know the team or the vehicle. Initial contacts with the team immediately gave me the impression of a well thought out structure and a pleasant atmosphere. Then I was able to test the BMW 450 and it was immediately clear that this was the right challenge for me. I’m glad to be part of the team and am highly motivated.”
 
Bert Meyer:
“It’s great for me to be able to be part of the factory team at my age. I followed the BMW 450 in the GCC this year. In the European final of the XCC the motorcycle really showed its winning potential. It’s a big challenge for me, of course, but I sense that the team is really friendly yet highly professional. Now it’s up to me to live up to the trust that has been placed in me.”

Simo Kirssi:
“The season was hard for me as a racer as I wasn’t able to let loose as usual, but I knew exactly what my job was and I was happy to do it. With my test runs and race entries I had to help advance the development of the bike. At the end of it all we were able to show was what the machine is capable of. I have a clear goal for 2008: I want to go full out to win the GCC – I will give everything I have and fight to the last. It won’t be easy, but I have great trust in the team and the bike.”

World Enduro Championship WEC 2008 dates
15th/16th March Sweden (Ostersund)
29th/30th March Portugal (Vale de Cambra)
5th/6th April Spain (Sitges)
14th/15th June Poland (Kwidzyn)
19th/20th July Wales / UK ( Llanidloes)
26th/27th July France (Uzerche)
27th/28th September Italy (Piediluco)
11th/12th October France (Alès)

German cross Country Championship 2008 dates
12th/13th April Tollwitz
24th /25th May Walldorf
28th /29th June Mernes
19th /20th July Goldbach
9th/10th August Mühlhausen
20th/21st September Schweinfurt
3rd/4th October Schefflenz