Joel Smets for A4DE

BMW is bringing out five-time world champion Joel Smets to compete in the Australian four-day round of the world enduro championships, which start on April 17.

The company says: “Joel was part of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team in 2007 that took the 450cc prototype to several rounds of the World Enduro Championships, scoring World Championship points on debut in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain in May.

“The team's maiden win came late in the season, with Simo Kirssi claiming overall victory in the European Cross Country championships at Schefflenz, Germany.

“Joel's consistency and determination paid off through the season, and he claimed an impressive sixth overall at the final round of the daunting German Enduro Championships at Zschopau in October.

“His commitment and enthusiasm as well as expertise and championship winning grit and determination gave the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team plenty of encouragement and advice as well as sheer inspiration in competition, helping to hone what is now known as the new BMW G 450 X.

“The BMW Motorrad Motorsport team will campaign a full season of WEC in 2008, as well as contesting the German Cross-Country Championships. At round one of the 2008 WEC, team rider Anders Eriksson scored a very credible 4th, just missing the podium at his home round in Sweden's snowy conditions.”

This will be the competition debut for the 450, which is due to be launched locally later this year. Smets’ machine will be stock, with the exception of a performance exhaust.