Former Yamaha World Superbike team boss Andrea Dosoli has taken over as head of BMW's WSBK race operations with immediate effect and will oversee the progress of Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri for the 2012 season.

Dosoli (39) replaces Rainer Baumel, who switched to a new vehicle project at BMW, and will act as an interface with the marketers and organisers of the Superbike World Championship, as well as forming a link to suppliers. He has worked with Melandri twice before.

“I am really motivated to succeed in my new role at BMW Motorrad Motorsport. Recent years have shown that the team and the BMW S 1000 RR have a lot of potential. It is now a matter of tapping the full capability. I am really looking forward to doing my bit," he said.

"Marco Melandri is an old acquaintance: we have already worked together in MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship in the past. Leon Haslam has also demonstrated just what he is capable of, and I am looking forward to working with him. I hope we will see both of them on the top step of the podium this year.”

The hunt for Davide Tardozzi continues...