MotoGP star Bradley Smith will join the YART World Endurance team at the Oschersleben Eight-Hour in order to help Mandy Kainz’ squad secure the championship.

The Austrian team is currently tied for second in the series, just eight points behind the leading team and with 35 points still to race for. Kainz is determined to claim the second World Championship Title for the team, its first since 2009.

YART finished last year's race on the German podium with a solid third place but Kainz believes recruiting Smith will further strengthen the team's current line-up, consisting of Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz, providing an extra boost in their final push towards the title victory. Smith has tested with the team at the Red Bull Ring in recent weeks.

"I'm very excited to announce that I'm going to be racing with the YART team at the Eight-Hour of Oschersleben. I was originally in contact with Mandy a few years ago to do the Suzuka Eight-Hours race but it never actually came through and then I ended up racing for the Yamaha Factory Racing Team last year,” said Smith.

“This year we have been in contact again and I rode the Spielberg racetrack during a two-day test with a bike supplied by Mandy and his team. We continued to keep in touch and after great performances by his team, with Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz, they are very close to a championship win.

“It's all resting on the round in Oschersleben, so I'm proud that they have decided to choose me as a rider to help support them in the final race of the series. I love endurance and I loved the Suzuka 8 Hours last year so it just seemed a perfect fit and a great way to help the team finish off the job and hopefully become World Champions.

“I want to thank Monster Yamaha Tech3 for supporting me. It will be a busy five weeks for us now that the second half of the MotoGP season is about to kick off. I'm looking forward to it closing the season in a positive way.“