BMW signs Ruben Xaus for 2009 World Superbike series

BMW ramped up the excitement level on the 2009 World Superbike series yet again today by announcing that Ruben Xaus will be one of the riders to take the new BMW S1000 RR into the heat of WSBK racing next year.

The 30 year-old spaniard is an 11-year veteran of top-level motorcycle racing, from early attempts at World Supersport and 2 seasons in MotoGP to 6 seasons with Ducati in World Superbike including finishing second overall to teammate Neil Hodgson in the 2003 series.

The bike itself sounds exciting, with BMW hinting at an in-house traction control system and possibly the first set of pneumatic valves to enter WSBK.

Here’s hoping Xaus has as much fun on the BMW as he did at the Ducati Hypermotard launch (gratuitous kneedown one-handed powerslide pictures after the jump, in convenient desktop sizes).