Austrian firm KTM will debut its KTM RC8 Superbike in Germany's IDM Series next season with former FIM Superstock Cup Champion Didier Van Keymeulen as one of the riders.
The Dutchman, whose name you really have to be careful about pronouncing, will be joined by Stefan Nebel who has already won the IDM Championship three times. This is the firm's first steps towards a full World Superbike assault in 2010.
“I am convinced that with the RC8 R and our small but highly motivated team we can give a good account of ourselves in the high-class IDM series. Even though a great deal of work still lies ahead of us in the coming five months, we are already looking forward with enthusiasm and excitement to the first race of the season,” says team manager Konrad Hefele.
Under the leadership of the RC8 project manager, Wolfgang Felber, KTM has set up a test team parallel to the German-based race team. Its job will be to carry out further development work during the 2009 season within the framework of the very stringent IDM Superbike regulations.
First tests with the Superbike version of the up to 180 hp series-production RC8 R, that will be available at dealers from spring 2009, have already taken place in Spain.
