KTM Motorsports has signed Spain’s Laia Sanz to compete in the Women’s Enduro World Championship and to be part of the KTM Factory Rally Team.

Sanz brings with her exceptional riding skills shaped by a background in trials competition, where she won 13 women’s world titles. She has won the Women’s Enduro World Championship three times (2012, 2013 and 2014) and in January 2015 had her career-best finish in the Dakar Rally with ninth overall.

Sanz said as well as competing in the Women’s Enduro Championship she will try to compete in some of the FIM World Championship rallies, if the racing calendar permits. Speaking from Spain she confirmed that she was very happy to be joining KTM.

“It will be amazing to be with such good riders like [Marc] Coma and [Ivan] Cervantes,” Sanz said. “I can learn a lot from them and it is very important for me. I know I am still able to improve and being with KTM is the best way to do this.

“I grew up with a passion for trials, which is more technical but this has given me the skills I need for good enduro riding. Now I also have a real passion for riding the Dakar – I watched it on TV when I was very young and I never imagined I would be able to compete. It is a great adventure, you have to give your best and you have to know your limits.”

Pit Beirer, head of KTM Motorsports added: “It is a pleasure to welcome Laia Sanz into the KTM Factory Rally Team and to the EWC competition as our first female enduro factory rider. Laia brings with her a great record of success and outstanding motorcycle skills.

“Her three World Enduro titles in the women’s competition and her overall ninth place finish in the 2015 Dakar all speak for themselves. With the KTM factory behind her we can look forward to seeing Laia go from strength to strength.”

The 2015 Women’s Enduro World Championship is made up of eight rounds on four race weekends, commencing at Jerez in Spain on 9-10 May.