Five-time world champion Joel Smets has been appointed KTM Motocross Factory Racing sports director, the Belgian legend returning to the KTM brand.

Smets joins KTM to fill this newly-created position within the factory team structure and both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team managers, Claudio de Carli (MXGP) and Dirk Gruebel (MX2), welcome him on board.

He will be in charge of overseeing general planning and will coordinate and facilitate training schedules to the best advantage. Smets will also be head of the race workshop in Belgium.

The MXGP, MX2 and KTM Factory Junior teams will now share two comprehensive base camp facilities, one in Belgium and a second near Rome. The two locations will allow them to take best advantage of prevailing weather conditions and to work out of two top class facilities.

“I’m pleased and proud that we have been able to bring a personality like Joel into this new position,” said KTM Motorsport director Pit Beirer. “I’m confident that he is going to lead our riders onto even greater things. Joel’s experience and his career achievements speak for themselves and clearly he’s also a strong role model for both our senior and junior factory riders.”

Smets took his first world title in 1995 and won again in 1997 and 1998. His fourth and fifth titles were while he rode for KTM in 2000 and 2003. Smets started in 168 GPs during his career and with 57 GP victories, he established himself as one of the sport’s greatest riders.