Murrieta, CA – KTM Motorsports and HMC Racing LLC are excited to announce German rider Stefan Nebel has been hired as the second member of the KTM/HMC Superbike Racing Team for select rounds of the 2012 AMA Pro Superbike Racing season.
KTM announced earlier this year that the KTM/HMC Superbike Racing Team would embark on its first full year of AMA Pro Superbike Racing on the KTM 1190 RC8 R Race Spec motorcycle with rider Chris Fillmore. Now, KTM is equally excited to announce that Nebel will join Fillmore for six of the eleven series rounds.
Nebel, a 2-time IDM Superbike Champion and former IDM Superstock Champion, has been with the KTM brand since the beginning of the KTM 1190 RC8 Superbike project. Nebel was the first test rider for KTM during the development stages of the motorcycle and also raced as a member of the German KTM Superbike racing team in 2009 during the bikes inaugural year on the IDM circuit. Nebel finished second in the IDM Superbike Series in 2009 and fourth in 2010.
“It has always been a dream of mine to race in the U.S.,” remarked Nebel. “I am looking forward to working with the KTM/HMC Racing Team to help in the development of the RC8 R Race Spec bike. I am very eager to begin racing and am grateful to KTM for the opportunity.”
Nebel will arrive in the US in late March for the Homestead-Miami Speedway test where he will get his first opportunity to turn some laps with the KTM/HMC Racing Team. Nebel’s first race will be the third round of the series held at Infineon Raceway May 4-6, 2012. He will continue to follow the series for the next six rounds making his final race the Red Bull US Grand Prix Weekend of July 27-30, 2012 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
“We are excited to have Nebel join our team,” stated KTM/HMC Team Manager Mitch Hansen. “He brings a wealth of experience not only in racing but in regards to his research and development efforts with the RC8. We feel with his presence that it really shows the global effort KTM is putting behind this team and we are all eager for the season to kick off.”
