Source: Supplied.

Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider Bradley Smith will join Australia’s Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz at YART Yamaha Official EWC Team when the 2016 Endurance World Championship goes down to the wire at Germany’s 8 Hours of Oschersleben.

YART enters the final round of the championship tied for second position, just eight points outside of the world title lead following a heroic performance from Parkes in last month’s Suzuka 8 Hours to finish fourth.

“I’m very excited to announce that I’m going to be racing with the YART team at the 8 Hour of Oschersleben,” Parkes said. “I was originally in contact with Mandy [Kainz] a few years ago to do the Suzuka 8 Hour race, but it never actually came through and then I ended up racing for the Yamaha Factory Racing Team last year. This year we have been in contact again and I rode the Spielberg race track during a two-day test with a bike supplied by Mandy and his team.

“We continued to keep in touch and after great performances by his team, with Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz, they are very close to a championship win. It’s all resting on the round in Oschersleben, so I’m proud that they have decided to choose me as a rider to help support them in the final race of the series. I love endurance and I loved the Suzuka 8 Hours last year so it just seemed a perfect fit and a great way to help the team finish off the job and hopefully become world champions.

“I want to thank Monster Yamaha Tech3 for supporting me. It will be a busy five weeks for us now that the second half of the MotoGP season is about to kick off. I’m looking forward to it closing the season in a positive way!”

Smith starred on the way to victory at last year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, however his lone EWC appearance for this season will come at the 8 Hours of Oschersleben on 25-27 August. That event takes place in between the Austrian and Misano rounds.