Guintoli, Smith
Join BMW
WorldSBK
Test Team
O
n the back of Toprak
Razgatlioglu's arrival, the
BMW WorldSBK team has gone
on a spending spree of late and
has announced the arrival of
former WorldSBK Champion Syl
-
vain Guintoli and former MotoGP
podium finisher Bradley Smith as
its test team.
Guintoli, the 2021 Endurance
World Champion with the Suzuki
Endurance Racing Team and
former MotoGP GSX-RR develop
-
ment rider, will also campaign a
BMW M 1000 RR in the EWC for
the 2024 season as part of his
development role.
"I am very happy to join the
BMW Motorrad Motorsport
WorldSBK factory project as a test
rider. The project is very exciting,
and I am looking forward to bring
-
ing my experience into it," Guintoli
said. "I can't wait to get started
and enjoy the BMW M 1000 RR."
Smith's career in Superbike
competition is limited, although
he was part of Yamaha's victori
-
ous Suzuka 8 Hour team back
in 2015. He was also one of the
initial lead development and race
riders for KTM in their early years
of MotoGP.
"To be asked by BMW Motor
-
rad to join the test team is a
great privilege," Smith said. "I will
work my hardest to deliver what
our four WorldSBK factory riders
need to battle with the best in
the championship."
CN
Bradley Smith (left) and
Sylvain Guintoli (on bike)
during their Yamaha years.
Both will now join the BMW
WorldSBK test team.
WIND
IN THE
P38
KTM Cuts 300
European Staff
P
ierer Mobility Group (PMG) announced the
reduction of 300 employees at its Austrian
headquarters, with the jobs set to move to its
Asian subsidiaries, CFMoto and Bajaj Auto.
PMG owns not just KTM but also Husqvar-
na and GasGas, and additionally owns 25
percent of MV Agusta, which PMG is set to
acquire the majority share of in 2026.
According to a report on Visordown.com,
PMG blamed "the unfavorable economic con-
ditions in Europe, which has led to the deci-
sion to relocate parts of production for individual
midrange models and certain R&D activities to
strategic partner Bajaj Auto, India, and CFMoto,
China," Pierer Mobility Group said. "Among other
things, this is intended to exploit cost advantages
in these regions and accelerate development and
industrialization processes.
"This strategic decision is associated with a
necessary reduction in staff of up to 300 employ
-
ees at the Austrian locations in 2024."
CN
Some more jobs have been
moved from KTM's Austrian
headquarters to Asia.
