Javier Fores to replace James Toseland
Javier 'Xavi' Fores has been confirmed as the rider who will replace the recently retired James Toseland at BMW Italia for the three remaining rounds of the 2011 World Superbike Championship.
The 25-year-old will make his WSBK debut at this weekend's Imola round, before staying with the team alongside Ayrton Badovini for the concluding Magny-Cours and Portimao events.
A new career direction for Fores, who was most recently seen competing for Mapfre Aspar in Moto2, the Spaniard gets his shot on the premier Superbike stage after claiming title glory in the Spanish-based CEV Stock Extreme 1000 series riding the BMW S1000RR.
Prior to that, Fores has raced on the international scene, finishing fourth aboard a Kawasaki in the 2009 FIM Superstock 1000 series, while he also has top ten credits at World Supersport level.
With prior knowledge of the BMW S1000RR a crucial importance for sporting director Serafino Foti, Fores duly emerged as the ideal candidate.
"Xavi is a young rider with a fairly good amount of experience both with 4-stroke motorcycles and with international competitions. He has demonstrated that he can be both fast and consistent. Last year in the CEV Superstock Extreme he won six of the seven races in the championship.
"Considering the short amount of time we have before next weekend's race in Imola, his experience riding a BMW S 1000 RR is important. As a matter of fact, having already raced with this motorcycle, Xavi is already familiar with many of its characteristics; and it should therefore be relatively easy for him to adapt to our motorcycle."
