Jordi Torres will switch from the Althea BMW team to MV Agusta for the 2018 World Superbike Championship, the Italian manufacturer has confirmed.
Spaniard Torres stepped over to the Superbike World Championship in 2015 having previously contested the Moto2 World Championship, in which he was a grand prix winner at the Sachsenring in 2013.
Torres made an immediate impression in WorldSBK on the Red Devils Aprilia, scoring top five finishes in his first six races and claiming a debut podium in Italy. Two more podiums as well as a maiden win in Qatar followed.
When Aprilia pulled out as a factory entrant at the end of 2015, Torres switched to the Althea team and has managed consistent results aboard the BMW S1000RR. He is currently ninth in the standings on 149 points with a best finish of fourth in 2017.
“I’m really excited to start this new season with Team MV Agusta Reparto Corse,” said Torres.
“Over the recent seasons I have been able to evaluate the excellent rise of the F4 RC and I am sure we will be able to take some very positive results in 2018.
“Thanks to Andrea Quadranti (Team boss), Giovanni Castiglioni (Team owner) and MV Agusta for believing in me and my potential; I really look forward to riding this bike during the next tests.”
Quadranti added: “We are really glad to have signed this contract with Jordi; his strength and talent make him the best choice to continue development on our F4 RC and to consistently claim important results.
“We definitely look forwrad to seeing Jordi on our bike for the winter test.
“I would also like to extend my personal thanks to Leon Camier, who will leave us at the end of the season for a new professional adventure.”
Torres will be replacing Britain’s Leon Camier, who will depart the team to join the Red Bull Honda squad.
Camier has been instrumental in transforming the F4 into a bike that achieved just one top five finish in his first full season with the team in 2015 to a regular top five and occasional podium threat.
Camier‘s team–mate at Honda in 2018 is still unknown at present, with both Davide Giugliano and Jake Gagne in line to join him.
It is also rumoured MV could expand to a two–rider effort in 2018, with current Avintia MotoGP rider Loris Baz – who has also been linked with Honda – touted as a potential team–mate for Torres.
