Fabrizio joins Badovini at BMW Italia
BMW Italia has confirmed its rider line-up for the 2012 World Superbike Championship season with the confirmation that Michel Fabrizio will join Ayrton Badovini.
Forming an all-Italian line-up for satellite BMW operation, Fabrizio's brings six seasons of WSBK experience to the team. During that time, he has accumulated four race wins, while he was a top three finisher overall in 2009 aboard the Ducati Xerox.
Indeed, Fabrizio's acquisition will see him reunited with many of the Xerox team, which defected to BMW Italia when the factory Ducati outfit withdrew at the end of 2010. With this in mind, Fabrizio is excited about his future on the S1000RR.
"I am very pleased with the signing of this contract and I hope to repay the trust that the team has shown in me," said Fabrizio, who concluded his 2011 season with Suzuki Alstare in 12th overall. "I am happy to be working again with people that were part of my team for three years and that will provide a stable environment that will help me do well.
"I am very motivated and ready to play my part next season because I know that the project is ambitious and the team is good."
BMW Italia made its WSBK debut in 2011 after dominating the 2010 Superstock 1000 series, with Badovini and former champion James Toseland forming its line-up. With injury ruling Toseland out for much of the season - and eventually culminating in his decision to retire -, Badovini assumed the mantle of team leader and proved a frequent top ten finisher, regularly out-pacing the factory BMW Motorrad riders.
As such, the 2010 Superstock 1000 champion will return for 2012, where Badovini will be confident of building on his tenth place finish in the overall standings.
The decision to sign Fabrizio comes amidst speculation that BMW were looking to poach WSBK champion Carlos Checa for 2012 and place him in the Italia line-up.
