Eight-time world motocross champion Antonio Cairoli has extended his contract with the Red Bull KTM team through the 2018 season.

Following his injury-plagued 2015 where he finished seventh overall in the MXGP championship standings, the 30-year-old is eager to recapture the MXGP number one plate in the coming three seasons.

“I am super happy that I am going to continue my career with KTM,” said Cairoli. “I want to fight for the motocross world championship in the next three years and while I’m doing it, I’m happy to be part of such a great team.”

KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer shares the same determination as Cairoli and looks forward to a continued relationship with the rider who captured KTM five consecutive MXGP world titles from 2010 to 2014.

“We are extremely happy that we will have Antonio Cairoli on board in the KTM family for a further three years,” said Peirer. “Even though the last season was a difficult one for him, we want to stay together to recapture the success of our past seasons.”

Cairoli will begin his campaign for a ninth world title when the 2016 MXGP championship season gets underway in Qatar on 27 February.