Beta is to enter the FIM Motocross World Championship with Team SDM Corse, and has signed up Jeremy Van Horebeek to head up this debut effort. His team-mate will be young Frenchman Jimmy Clochet, who will ride for the new SDM Beta team run by Daniele Marchese.
SDM last year ran a Yamaha team from its Italian base in Varese with riders Ruben Fernandez and Michele Cervellin.
The Italian manufacturer has world championship trials and enduro championship wins but this is the first time it will enter the MXGP class.
Beta recently signed up Briton Jonny Walker for enduro duties. Beta already has British world enduro champs Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman.
Belgian Van Horebeek confirmed it’s a two-year deal and has posted a video of him in action on the bike.