Bench Racing: 2009 World Superbike

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Spies and Sykes get to grips with Imola track
Cruel setback for Max [Neukirchner]

Motorsport.com
Yamaha Imola test wrapup
Ducati Imola test wrapup

Next Race

Brno Czech Republic July 24-27

Official Track Website

WSBK Imola Tests
Today, July 17, 2009, 6 hours ago
2009 Superbike World Championship
Infront Motor Sports Official Tests - Imola, 15/16 July
Conditions: Dry, hot 35-37C.

TOP SEVEN FOR RUBEN AND IMPROVEMENT ALL ROUND.

The two day official tests in Imola saw an improvement in BMW’s fortunes, with Ruben Xaus ending seventh quickest overall and just one tenth of a second or so off Ben Spies in third place. Both Ruben and Troy had new spec engines here, but Troy’s engine blew a head gasket yesterday and he had to go back to the older engine for the afternoon and today. Ruben used the new spec engine yesterday and today and, like Troy, found the bike easier to ride and control. Both riders are now looking forward to having the new spec engines for the Brno round on 26th July. Briton Jonathon Rea (Honda) posted the fastest lap of the tests, with a lap of 1:48.670. Second is Michel Fabrizio (Ducati), with Ben Spies (Yamaha) third and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) fourth.

Ruben - 7th, 1:49.467
I am happy how the these tests have gone and I am really happy with the new engines. Now the bike is easier to ride and the connection between the throttle and the engine is improved. Of course, there’s still a lot of work to do, but this improvement has made us all smile again and look forward to using these engines in Brno.
The lap times are very close and if I had gone just over one tenth of a second faster, I would have been fighting Spies for third place! I am happy with my times on race tyres and feel we have made a good step forward and one that allows us to think very positively about the future. The team have been working fantastically hard recently and we need to be happy about what we have done. I have a lot of faith that BMW understand the situation and know what to do to keep up this improvement.

Troy - 17th, 1:50.486
Once my new engine had gone, it was back to what we had before, but what’s good is that we realise how much better the new engine is. Going back to the old spec re-enforced our thoughts about the new engine and we definitely know it’s the way ahead for us. The new spec engine makes the bike easier to ride and I can push a lot harder. So, it was a shame that the head gasket went yesterday, because it would’ve been good to put in a lot more laps and get the bike working better. Ruben’s comments and lap times make me and the team feel a lot more positive about Brno and the next few races.

Rainer Baeumel - Team Manager
I am happy that we have been able to make a step forward and pleased with Ruben’s performance. I feel sorry for Troy because he didn’t have enough time with the new engine to make progress like Ruben. Ruben had a problem, like Troy, with one his bikes this afternoon, but we know what the problem is and can fix it in time for Brno. The new engine spec is giving the riders more confidence and making the bike easier for them to ride. There’s more work to do of course, but we are all looking forward to Brno because we think it is a circuit that should suit our bike. After Misano and Donington, it’s good to have something positive to talk about about and something good to look forward to.


Overall results
1 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:48.670, 2 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:48.847, 3 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:49.262, 4 Lanzi (ITA-Ducati) 1:49.309, 5 Sykes (GBR-Yamaha) 1:49.422, 6 Hopkins (USA-Honda) 1:49.443, 7 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:49.467, 17 Troy Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:50.486,

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Small set-up changes work out for Spies

Heidfeld and Corser swap Formula One car and Superbike.

Looks like Xaus and Kubica decided to play too!

ÔÇó 20.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
Theissen: ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs good to feel the support.ÔÇØ

N??rburg, 20th July 2009. The highlight of this yearÔÇÖs one-day event at the N??rburgring for fans and partners of the BMW Sauber F1 Team was the vehicle swap between German Formula One driver Nick Heidfeld and BMW Motorrad Superbike rider Troy Corser of Australia ÔÇô more than 700 hp on four wheels in exchange for a good 200 hp on two. Over 700 guests came to the Eifel to enjoy an exclusive ride through the gamut of BMWÔÇÖs racing activities.

This is what Heidfeld (32) had to say after his ride on the Superbike: ÔÇ£It was a sensational experience ÔÇô thank you to everyone! I already had lots of fun practising on the street bike in the morning, and managed to score the first scrapes into the knee area of my racing suit. That was inevitable. Of course I wanted to touch the ground while cornering on the racing machine as well, and I came up trumps there too. I had expected the Superbike to be a huge leap over the production version, a bit like series cars and racers, but I was surprised in the end. The difference is huge. On the one hand the Superbike is more aggressive, builds up more grip and has the superior brakes, but on the other hand it is easier to ride because you can control it so well. The handling is very precise. Obviously IÔÇÖm still miles from the limit with the superbike; I would love to have done a lot more laps.ÔÇØ

Two-times Superbike World Champion Corser (37) was likewise impressed by the Formula One race car: ÔÇ£It was just awesome! The car feels so balanced and the brakes are fantastic, the tyres have unbelievable grip and the steering is very direct but still has a lot of feeling. I canÔÇÖt believe how hard and late you can brake. I know I was braking too early and I really would like to have a day or two with the car to really see what I can do with it. IÔÇÖd like to thank everybody involved in giving me this opportunity ÔÇô and I hope I can do it again.ÔÇØ

HeidfeldÔÇÖs Polish team-mate Robert Kubica steered the F1 racer around the short version of the N??rburgring, while the second BMW Motorrad bike racer from the World Superbike Championship, Ruben Xaus of Spain, let rip on his BMW S 1000 RR and gleaned his first experiences in the BMW 320si WTCC as deployed in the World Touring Car Championship. WTCC drivers Augusto Farfus, J?Ârg M??ller and Sergio Hern?índez, along with seasoned N??rburgring connoisseur Claudia H??rtgen, played taxi drivers in the WTCC car, the BMW M3 GT4 and the BMW M5 Ring Taxi. Guests were allowed to get behind the wheel of BMW M3 and Formula BMW cars.

Popular interlocutors and competitors in the slot car tournament were Peter Sauber and BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, who valued the occasion particularly highly: ÔÇ£Above all in these difficult times, we are indebted to our partners and fans,ÔÇØ Theissen stressed, ÔÇ£and itÔÇÖs really good to feel this support. ItÔÇÖs easy to accept the accolades, and weÔÇÖve had plenty of them over recent years. But we must not let the dialogue falter when things get tough.ÔÇØ

In the afternoon Xaus (31) swapped the touring car back for his superbike: ÔÇ£It was a lot of fun but I wish I had more time to play around ÔÇô unfortunately IÔÇÖve got only two laps. The car feels very safe and you can go across the kerbstones, which of course I canÔÇÖt do on the bike. The big difference between four wheels and two is the braking, because you can brake a lot later on four wheels. I enjoyed my brief experience, but I prefer my bike because on the bike I feel free.ÔÇØ

Robert Kubica (24) enjoyed the support of the fans, among whom were also a number of fellow-Poles. He commented on the event: ÔÇ£Looking at the BMW Motorsport fleet is quite impressive. If someone locked me up at a race track with all these toys, I would have lots of fun.ÔÇØ

In addition to the activities on the race track, the autograph sessions and the shop talk, guests were also offered a glimpse behind doors that are ordinarily closed. A raffle was held for prizes such as a ride on the N??rburgring, both as a passenger and at the wheel, as well as signed items of racing gear and original vehicle components. And the BMW Sauber F1 Team Race Club was delighted to welcome new members at the Ring.

Another one of those ear pierced reckless gentleman racers run amuck



Next Race

Brno Czech Republic July 24-27

Official Track Website

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK

Tamada hooks up with Prkes once again

crash.net: Haga passed fit to race at Brno

motorcyclenews.com: Buell build controversial 1125RR superbike racer

WSBK rd 10, Brno, CZE, preview
July 21, 2009
2009 Superbike World Championship
Preview: Round 10, Brno, CZ, 26th July

RUBEN AND TROY LOOKING FORWARD TO BRNO

The tenth round of this yearÔÇÖs Superbike World Championship takes place at the Autodromo Brno circuit on 26th July and both Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser are eager to find out if the results of the recent Imola tests are going to bear fruit. As expected, the season has not been an easy for the new team but the whole crew are looking forward to Brno and hopeful of a return to their early season form. The sweeping nature of the 5.403 kilometre track should be better suited to the S 1000 RR and Ruben and Troy would like to finish the last race before the summer break with good results.

Ruben
Our recent tests have gone well and the bike is definitely working better now. It is more rideable and I am much more happy about the prospect of racing it in Brno. The track is a good track and I think that all riders enjoy it a lot. Although there are some slow corners, it is a flowing track and I think that our bike will go well there. It has been a long, hard season so far, but I feel positive that Troy and I can do well in Brno. Afterwards we have five weeks or so before the next race, so it would be great to leave Brno with some good results.

Troy
After the Imola tests, I feel that the bike is more easy to ride and the things we tried are definitely in the right direction. So I am looking forward to Brno because the track should suit us and we should be able to get something positive out of the races. ItÔÇÖs not been an easy season so far and my injuries have not helped, but my hand is no problem now and my right shoulder is nearly fully OK. I like Brno and am hoping that we can leave there with two good results and then enjoy our summer break.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
We saw some positive signs in our recent tests and are very hopeful that Brno will be a good event for us. Certainly, Ruben and Troy have given us very positive and encouraging feedback about what we tried in the recent tests and now we have to see what will happen in Brno. The track should be good for us and we are all looking forward to a positive weekend before the summer break. The team have worked hard and long all year and I think we all need a bit of break, some time to rest and consider all the things that have happened since we began this great adventure. This is the hardest year in WSBK history and the challenge is very tough, but all of us are happy to be in this big fight and be sure we will do the very best we can.

2008 results
Race 1: 1 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 2 Troy Corser (Aus-Yamaha), 3 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati) DNF,
Race 2: 1 Bayliss, 2 Fabrizio, 3 Biaggi (ITA-Ducati), 4 Troy Corser, Ruben Xaus DNF,



Next Race

Brno Czech Republic July 24-27

Official Track Website

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK

worldsbk.com: Three way battle between Haga Spies and Fabrizio resumes at Brno

crash.net: Fabrizio targets victory at favorite track

worldsbk.com: Biaggi still at 80% after Donington injury

fim-live.com: Tamada ready to return

Injured teams as well as riders are in the news
crash.net: Guandalini down to one bike, retains Smrz

Then there is Ben Spies who just seems indomitable at times.
motorcyclenews.com: Yamaha and Spies ready to take the fight to Ducati at Brno

superbikeplanet.com: Brno WSBK previews [notes from multiple teams]

Next Race

Brno Czech Republic July 24-27

Official Track Website

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Kagayama goes solo for Suzuki this weekend
Biaggi and Aprilia advantage by Brno tests
Yamaha confident following positive Imola test
Haga ready for big comeback ÔÇô This will be very interesting to see how ready he is

yamaha-motor-europe.com: Yamaha head to Brno looking for more points before the summer break

motorsportmagazin.com: Change in leadership?
Motosport Magazine looks at the championship race going into the Brno round.[/1]

crash.net: Yamaha want Spies and Sykes to stay
I hope Spies does stay. MotoGP may be his goal but is this the time to head there?



Other S1000RR Racing News



BMW Press Club Germany ÔÇô translated by Google

On testing the class victory.
ÔÇó 23.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
BMW S 1000 RR wins 24-hour race "Frigo de Motociclisme" in Barcelona.

Munich / Barcelona. With the squares one o'clock-two o'clock in the Super Stock class and the ranks five and six in the overall standings celebrated the new BMW S 1000 RR in the 24 hour race "Frigo de Motociclisme" on 18/19. July at the price of Catalunya in Barcelona an outstanding success.

In the case of the BMW team "Busquets" with drivers and Alex Josep Maria Busquets, Gerhard Lindner, testing manager at BMW Motorrad and Camille Hedelin and the BMW team Bunet "with Pierre San Martin, Josep Mas, Raoul Gurri and Pedro Balaguer machinery involved it is pure-series machines with only a 24-liter tank for quick refueling, Akrapovic-Rennauspuffanlage as well as quick-change devices for the wheels for the 24-hour races have been prepared.

The S 1000 RR of the winning team "Busquets" was also a motorcycle from the durability testing of BMW motorcycle, which at the time of the launch is already 25,000 kilometers under various conditions had gone.

Gerhard Lindner, Head of BMW Motorrad testing:
"During the race we then rewinds further trouble 4800 kilometers under the toughest conditions imaginable. With 293 km / h top speed, it has always been impressive, how many drivers we are on the opposite line could overtake. But most impressive were our new Race ABS and the new Dynamic Traction Control DTC. I am firmly convinced that these two highly sophisticated technical features 95 percent of all drivers on the track to faster lap times and more security will help. "


Next Race

Brno Czech Republic July 24-27

Official Track Website

 

[mika]

Qualifying notes from live timing
45 minutes remaining:
Corser 4th
Xaus 8th

Corser was 0.3 seconds + behind the leader time and Xaus within 1.00 seconds.

30 minutes remaining

The top 10 in order: Fabrizio, Checa, Biaggi, Corser (+0.528), Spies, Tamada, Nakano, Lanzi, Sykes, Kiyonari
Xaus was in the pits with P12 and 1.166 seconds off FabrizioÔÇÖs time

15 minutes remaining

Fabrizio, Checa, Spies, Biaggi, Corser (+0.058), Parkes (+0.001 on Corser), Hopkins, Kagayama, Smrz, Nakano
Xaus still + 1.166 seconds and now sitting 16th. Haga is in 20th.
What will the final flurry hold?

At the six minute mark Corser +0.245 bumps Biaggi for 4th

5 minutes ÔÇô Xaus is in 7th +0.373

Checa pips Fabrizio for the lead time with 2 minutes remaining.

1 minute Corser 6th Xaus 8th

The checquered flag falls with everyone still on hot laps

Biaggi holds on to the provisional pole. Corser 7th and Xaus in 9th. Spies came home 5th. Haga advances to Superpole in 16th.

I have to head off to the real world. I will post an update this evening with news and comments. Wow is all I have to say right now.



From: WorldSBK

Brno Superbike free practice session 1

crash.net: Biaggi fires warning shot in Brno practice
In the early going Biaggi and his Aprilia seem to have an advantage from their Brno testing round. How will this hold up during the weekend and more important what does their improvement mean for their season?

Thursday was promo day for WSBK: worldsbk.com: World Superbike hits town in Brno

crash.net: Spies ready to fight for title lead

motorcyclenews.com: Haga targets points despite pain.
This will be a headline through the weekend.

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[mika]

Spies takes another Superpole.

BMW makes it through to Q3 and the second row!

1 19 Spies B USA Yamaha YZF R1 PIT IN 1'58.868 4 2 84 Fabrizio M ITA Ducati 1098R PIT IN 1'58.950 0.082 3
3 3 Biaggi M ITA Aprilia RSV4 Factory PIT IN 1'59.055 0.187 4
4 65 Rea J GBR Honda CBR1000RR PIT IN 1'59.740 0.872 4
5 67 Byrne S GBR Ducati 1098R PIT IN 1'59.787 0.919 5
6 11 Corser T AUS BMW S1000 RR PIT IN 2'00.046 1.178 4
7 111 Xaus R ESP BMW S1000 RR PIT IN 2'00.096 1.228 4
8 66 Sykes T GBR Yamaha YZF R1 PIT IN 2'00.240 1.372 3
9 57 Lanzi L ITA Ducati 1098R
10 7 Checa C ESP Honda CBR1000RR
11 100 Tamada M JPN Kawasaki ZX 10R
12 96 Smrz J CZE Ducati 1098R
13 71 Kagayama Y JPN Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9
14 41 Haga N JPN Ducati 1098R
15 56 Nakano S JPN Aprilia RSV4 Factory
16 14 Lagrive M FRA Honda CBR1000RR
17 91 Haslam L GBR Honda CBR1000RR
18 9 Kiyonari R JPN Honda CBR1000RR
19 23 Parkes B AUS Kawasaki ZX 10R
20 121 Hopkins J USA Honda CBR1000RR

More news on this latter.

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK

News has been slow out of Brno

fim-live.com: Spies takes pole in Brno

BMW Motorrad Motorsport breaks through

The team finally broke through to the final round of Superpole qualifying and had a good result. That will be the story line that I suspect most will focus on. That is enough to bring cheer to the fans of the Roundel but there is more to that story that encourages me.

On any given race weekend the BMW team has been quick out of the box but has struggled to improve. Initial qualifying times would be set on Friday that would have them moving to the Superpole round only to see them drop down the grid as teams improved during the Friday session. When they finally moved on to Superpole rounds they suffered the same fate of nothing more to give than the initial best times. This weekend was different.

Imola test sessions held promise for good results at the Brno round of WSBK. When the team unloaded the bikes this weekend and took to the track things in practice were looking up. FridayÔÇÖs qualifying round made me nervous as I watched it on live timing.

Both Corser and Xaus took strong early positions on the chart with Corser 0.03 seconds off the lead and Xaus within a second. Then their best times seemed to be frozen while other teams and riders were finding the thousands of a second to move them down. Despite added laps there was no improvement until the final minutes when both found something extra to move them on to the Superpole round.

The transition from Friday qualifying to Superpole Saturday has been problematic at best for the BMW team. Tires have frustrated. Overnight the team has not found the extra something that others have been able to. I cautiously anticipated the Superpole round.

I miss calculated the time shift between Brno and fly-over-land. Instead of being early I was late. When I logged on to live timing the header formed first and I read we were already in the final round. I waited to see who would make up the final eight riders as the live timing recycled. Corser and Xaus were there! Again there were just minutes left. Positions were still juggling. To my pleasure when bested by other riders the BMW pilots were able to improve. The effort shows in the final qualifying results.

The team has broken through a qualifying wall that has held them back in past rounds. They were able to find more from rider and bike as the sessions progressed instead of hoping the initial best would hold up. For the Brno round at least they were very credible qualifiers through the entire process. Now we hold our breath for SundayÔÇÖs race.

Past grid positions have made it difficult for the team to show its stuff in the race. How the Brno race will play out for them depends on how successful the team has been with one last major problem; launch control.

The S1000RR has been a wheelie machine. Wheelies are great as celebrations at the end of the race but death to hard won grid positions at the start. To the recent break Corser and Xaus have been slipping the clutch in an old school start style in an effort to keep the wheel on the ground. This has delayed their tucking up into racing position and truly fighting for position going into the first corner. Bike development has found flying lap qualifying speed that yielded this weekends great grid positions. Has the team found the answer to launch control that will allow Corser and Xaus to capitalize on those hard won spots?

I am on the road Sunday. Look for a race wrap up on Monday.


BMW Motorrad Motorsport ÔÇô Friday press releases
WSBK rd. 10, Brno, CZE, friday qualifying
Today, July 25, 2009, 11 hours ago
2009 Superbike World Championship
Round 10, Brno, CZ
Circuit: 5.403 kms Conditions: Dry, sunny/cloudy 26 C.
Friday qualifying, 24th July

BEST FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING OF THE SEASON FOR TEAM BMW MOTORRAD MOTORSPORT.
Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus ended the first day of qualifying at Brno with their best results of the season and are now hoping for further improvement this weekend. Troy finished sixth quickest overall and Ruben eighth but, more importantly, both riders looked happy with the dayÔÇÖs proceedings and are now eager to push harder tomorrow. TodayÔÇÖs results have not come about by accident, they are the result of continuous hard work and development since Valencia, together with recent successful tests in Italy.
Italian Max Biaggi (Aprilia) posted the dayÔÇÖs fastest lap, with fellow Roman Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) second. Spaniard Carlos Checa (Honda) was third, with American Ben Spies (Yamaha) fourth, making it four different manufacturers on the provisional front row.

Troy - 6th, 2:00.603
Today I think the bike has probably been the best it has been all season and thatÔÇÖs very encouraging and positive. Today I can feel the track easily and because there are no real hairpins - which kill us normally - we can use the flow of the track to our advantage. The bike feels more consistent now and thatÔÇÖs because of the ongoing development and the step up we made in the recent tests. The bike is now easier to ride and I can push it hard, but when I do push hard, I am not getting the problems I had before. Ruben and I have been waiting for the bike to be like this and we both hope that the improvement will continue so that we can end this weekend with some really positive results.


Ruben - 8th, 2:00731
The bike is definitely easier to ride today and thatÔÇÖs because of the step forward we made during the recent tests and all the hard work the team have put in since the season began. I had to swap to my spare bike (because of a clutch problem) towards the end of todayÔÇÖs qualifying and although the tyres were different and set-up was not the same, I was able to put in quick laps straightaway. If I had been able to use my normal bike, I feel pretty sure that I couldÔÇÖve gone two or three tenths of a second quicker and that wouldÔÇÖve put me in about fourth place. ItÔÇÖs good to have a bike thatÔÇÖs more rideable and this gives me more time to do what I want. We shouldnÔÇÖt get too carried away though, because this track suits our bike better than lots of other tracks, and the important thing is that we continue to improve tomorrow, so that we can push hard for good results on Sunday.

Rainer Baeumel (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager)
Today is no overnight sensation. It is the result of work that began after Valencia, carried on since and then the improvements we made in our recent tests. It has been our objective to improve the rideability of the bike since the start of the season and we have now done that. Now we ned to keep up the pace and improve again because everybody will go faster tomorrow. ItÔÇÖs good to see Troy and Ruben smiling again and now we would like to end Sunday with good results and then enjoy our summer break.

Friday qualifying
1 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 1:59.982, 2 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 2:00.066, 3 C Checa (ESP-Honda) 2:00.205, 4 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 2:00.558, 5 Lanzi (ITA-Ducati) 2:00.581, 6 Troy Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 2:00.603, 8 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 2:00.731,

CorserÔÇÖs blog
Brno, CZ - First qualifying: TROY HAPPY!

Troy and team mate Ruben Xaus recorded their best first day of qualifying this season and ended the day with smiles on their faces. Troy found the S 1000 RR easier to ride and was able to use the flowing nature of the 5.403 kilometre track to good advantage in this morningÔÇÖs free practice and afternoon qualifying session. The recent tests, together with hard work away and at the track, are beginning to pay dividends and the bike is now easier to ride and more consistent. Considering that the bike is still being developed, todayÔÇÖs results have given a lot encouragement to the whole team and now everybody is hopeful that the improvement will carry on throughout the rest of the weekend. Italian Max Biaggi (Aprilia) posted the dayÔÇÖs fastest lap in first qualifying, with fellow Roman Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) second. Spaniard Carlos Checa (Honda) was third, with American Ben Spies (Yamaha) fourth, making it four different manufacturers on the provisional front row of the grid. Troy - 6th, 2:00.603 ItÔÇÖs been a while since I have been able to say that IÔÇÖm pretty happy, but today, I am pretty happy! The bike is now definitely more easy to ride and it is also much more consistent. Now I can feel what is going on when I push hard and so I donÔÇÖt waste time concentrating on what might or might not happen - I can just ride! The recent tests were very good and we found a good direction. Everything seems as if it is coming together and when the bike is like it was today, it gives you a big boost about what could be ahead. For me, today the bike has been probably been the best it has been all season and I can really ride the racetrack now. WeÔÇÖve got to keep on pushing and improving and it would be great to go into the summer break with good results. As long as the bike continues this way, I canÔÇÖt see any reason why Ruben and I cannot finish with results on Sunday thatÔÇÖll make the whole team smile. See ya, Troy

Next Race

Brno Czech Republic July 24-27

Official Track Website


Rider /Team Sites
Troy Corser ÔÇô BMW ÔÇô 11
Ruben Xaus ÔÇô BMW ÔÇô 111
Ben Spies ÔÇô Yamaha ÔÇô 19
John Hopkins ÔÇô Honda


BMW
BMW Motorrad Motorsport
11 - Corser Troy
111 ÔÇô Ruben Xaus

APRILIA
Aprilia Racing
3 - Biaggi Max
56 - Nakano Shinya

DUCATI
DUCATI Xerox Team
41 - Haga Noriyuki
84 - Fabrizio Michel
DFX Corse
55 - Laconi R?®gis
Team Guandalini Racing World Superbike
24 - Roberts Brendan
96 - Smrz Jakub
Team Sterilgarda
53 - Polita Alessandro
67 - Byrne Shane

HONDA
HONDA World Site ÔÇô world site
Honda Racing UK
Althea Racing HANNspree Honda
33 - Hill Tommy
Ten Kate Racing HANNspree Honda
7 - Checa Carlos
9 - Kiyonari Ryuichi
65 - Rea Jonathan
Pro Ride Superbik
Stiggy Racing Honda
91 - Haslam Leon
John Hopkins
Squadra Corse Itlalia
77 - Iannuzzo Vittorio

KAWASAKI
Kawasaki Road Racing
Paul Bird Motorsport
23 - Parkes Broc
100 - Tamada Makoto
PSG ÔÇô 1 Corse
86 - Badovini Ayrton
Team Pedercini
25 - Salom David
99 - Scassa Luca

SUZKI
Suzuke-Racing
Alstarre Suzuki
71 - Kagayama Yukio
76 - Neukirchner Max
Celani Racing Team
31 - Muggeridge Karl
TKR Suzuki Switzerland
88 - Resch Roland

YAMAHA
Yamaha World Superbike Team
19 - Spies Ben
66 - Sykes Tom
Yamaha GMT94 Ipone
94 - Checa David
MG Competition

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Wins for Biaggi and Spies at Brno, Haga keeps points lead

Brno Race Results and Statistics
Standings: Riders and Manufacturers

crash.net: BMW step forward returns Corser to top five

Race 1
worldsbk.com: Biaggi takes Aprilia back to the top in WSB opener at Brno
fim-live.com: Biaggi speechless after win

Race 2
worldsbk.com: Spies takes the win in race 2


mtorcyclenews.com: WSBK issue warning to Dorna
The statement via: motorsport.com

Corser set aside my questions about launch control as he pulled a hole shot to take the early lead in both races. This weekend marked a major step forward in all elements of the race weekend for the BMW team.

Xaus broke the neck of his right femur in an early crash in race 1. He has been put into a cast and is heading off to Barcelona for further assessment and treatment. There is no word on how long he will be out nor who will take his ride until his return. This is a major disappointment for Xaus and fans. He has been making steady on track progress with his bike.

Spies saw his hopes of overtaking Haga slip away early in Race 1. After passing Corser he was holding off Corser and others. Fabrizio made an overly aggressive and unwise attempt to overtake Spies on the inside of a turn and found himself lowsiding. In the process his sliding bike took out Spies and eliminated both of the then race leaders from race 1. In race two he was able to maintain enough separation to avoid a repeat after passing the early leader Corser. Haga for his part did everything he could to score points in what must have been a painful race for him.

The races were great to watch. Corser taking the early lead in both races was great! Race 1 was something of a demolition derby as riders crashed out. Yet both races were full of entertaining passing and pointed to the remaining obstacle in BMW’s hopes for a podium; tires and chassis setup for race day.

Corser looked graceful but just plain slow in the turns. He did not seem to be able to lean it over and attack through a turn. He cleanly defended from being overtaken as long as he was able by making himself large. Once past a corner he and his bike had plenty of speed on tap to hold off challengers. Five compounds were available to teams for this race. His competitors were shod with various combinations of soft fronts and hard rears. Corser was shod with mediums front and back. In terms of wear they seemed to hold up well over the length of a race. But WSBK is road racing not drag racing and the bikes must turn. The team has to figure out what made them competitive in Superpole this weekend and take this knowledge to race day setup and tire selection.

Brno may well mark a major milestone in progress for BMW Motorrad Motorsport but there are miles to go before they climb that podium.





WSBK rd. 10, Brno, CZE, The Races
Yesterday, July 26, 2009, 1:09:22 PM
2009 Superbike World Championship
Round 10, Brno, CZE
Circuit: 5.403 kms. Crowd: 75,000 (3-day). Conditions: Dry, sunny/cloudy 20-23 C.
Sunday 26th July

BEST WEEKEND OF THE SEASON FOR TROY. RUBEN INJURED.
The work done away from the track, together with the recent successful Italian tests, all added up to Brno being the best weekend of the season to date. Troy finished a superb fifth in race one, after leading the first couple of laps, and followed that up with a tenth in race two, despite tyre problems.

Ruben had qualified alongside Troy on the second row of the grid and was looking forward to him and Troy challenging the leaders in both the 20-lap races. But, a crash on the opening lap of the first race put paid to any chance of glory and left Ruben in the medical centre. After X-rays, it was discovered that he had broken the neck of his right femur. His right leg and hip area were put in plaster, to keep everything in a stable condition and prevent any further damage. Ruben will fly to hospital in Barcelona, where a specialist will assess the situation and decide what course of action is required.

Max Biaggi (Aprilia) won the first race, after Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) took out Ben Spies (Yamaha) after just four laps, with Honda team mates Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea in second and third. Spies won the second race and closed the gap on series leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) to just seven points. Second was Biaggi, with Fabrizio third.

Troy - Race 1: 5th, Race 2: 10th
I’m generally pretty happy with how the weekend has gone and it’s been good to be consistently in the top seven or eight in every session and also qualify for final Superpole. I feel so much more comfortable on the bike now and don’t feel as worn out afterwards as I have been. The recent tests have helped us a lot and it’s good to know that we are going in the right direction and it’s also good to know that there’s more to come. It’s a shame that Ruben crashed because I’m sure that he would’ve been right up there in both races. He is as happy with the rideability of the bike as I am and both of us are really beginning to enjoy ourselves.

Ruben - Race 1: DNF, Race 2: DNS
That was a bit pity because I have been so happy about the bike this weekend because it has been so much easier to ride. Finally we were getting somewhere and then I crash! I guess that maybe the tyre was a bit too hard and a bit too cool. I didn’t highside, I just fell off. I was sliding along OK and than I hit some deep gravel and that spun my right leg round and that’s when the damage was done. I want to be positive and say that at least the injury has happened when we are about to have five weeks or so off and that will give me time to recover. I can’t wait to get back on my bike and carry on with the recent improvements.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
Firstly I would like to say that I hope it will not be too long before Ruben is able to join us again. I hope he is in not too much pain and I hope that he will heal quickly. The doctor told us that it is not a complicated break, so we will keep our fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. Ruben’s crash does not hide the fact that this weekend has been very positive for us and we are all happy about the recent improvements. We achieved our goal of a top five finish and, more importantly, we know which direction to take now. It’s good to see Troy and Ruben smiling this weekend and I’m really pleased that Troy is happy with the bike.

Results
Race 1: 1 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia), 2 C Checa (ESP-Honda), 3 Rea (GBR-Honda), 4 Byrne (GBR-Ducati), 5 Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), 6 Smrz (CZE-Ducati), Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) DNF,
Race 2: 1 Spies (USA-Yamaha), 2 Biaggi, 3 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), 4 Rea, 5 C Checa, 6 Haga (JPN-Ducati), 10 Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) DNS,
Points: 1 Haga 326, 2 Spies 319, 3 Fabrizio 273, 4 Rea 206, 5 Biaggi 200, 6 Haslam 180, 16 Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 53, 17 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 50,

From Corser’s website

Brno, CZ - Race: SUPERB FIFTH FOR TROY IN BMW’S BEST WEEKEND OF THE YEAR!
Saturday, July 25, 2009, 7:00:00 PM
Troy took a tremendous fifth place in the first WSBK race in Brno today and probably would’ve had another top six finish in race two had it not been for tyre problems. But, despite the problems, Troy still managed to finish in the top ten, to give him and the BMW team their best weekend of the season. The only negative was that Troy’s team mate Ruben Xaus fell heavily on the opening lap of race one, breaking the neck of his femur in the process. Whether or not the Spaniard will be fit enough to race in the next round remains to be seen, but at least there is now a five week or so gap before that takes place. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) won the first race, after Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) crashed and took out Ben Spies (Yamaha) after only four laps. Honda team mates Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea finished in second and third, with Shane Byrne (Ducati) fourth, just ahead of Troy. Spies made up for his first race disappointment by winning the second race, to close the gap on series leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) to just seven points. Second was Biaggi, with fellow Roman Fabrizio third. Troy - Race 1: 5th, race 2: 10th It’s been a good weekend for us, even though Ruben got injured. That was a shame because he qualified next to me on the grid and I’m sure he would’ve also got some good results. What was good about this weekend is that we have been on the pace consistently in every practice, qualifying and we also got into final Superpole for the first time. That shows that we are making good progress and it is due to the hard work put in by the whole team and some really good tests in Italy recently. The bike is much easier to ride now and I can now feel everything that is going on and really ride the bike. Also, at the end of the day, I’m not worn out! We know which direction to take and now we need to work on how to manage the tyres on this bike. Today, we probably didn’t have exactly the right tyres in the two races. But if we had chosen some other ones (ones we hadn’t tested very much), it would’ve been a bit of a gamble. It’s really great to see the whole team smiling again and it’s a good way to finish before the long summer break. See ya, Troy



BMW Motorrad Motorsport: Qualifying press release

WSBK rd. 10, Brno, CZE, Final Qualifying
Saturday, July 25, 2009, 12:09:14 PM
2009 Superbike World Championship
Round 10, Brno, CZ
Circuit: 5.403 kms Conditions: Sunny/cloudy 21 C.
Final qualifying, Saturday 25th July

BEST SUPERPOLE RESULT OF THE YEAR FOR TROY AND RUBEN!
Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus will start tomorrow’s pair of 20-lap races alongside each other after qualifying in sixth and seventh places - their best qualifying result of the season so far. Today is the first time the team has managed to get into final Superpole and to do it with both riders shows that all the season’s hard work is paying off. Now, instead of staring at the start lights from a distance, both Troy and Ruben will be on the second row, just behind Superpole winner Ben Spies (Yamaha). Second quickest in Superpole today is Michel Fabrizio (Ducati), with Max Biaggi (Aprilia) third and Jonathan Rea (Honda) fouth, making it four different manufacturers on the front row for the second day running.

Troy - 6th, 2:00.046
Well I think that I can finally say that I’m pretty happy with how these two days have gone. Throughout the practices and qualifying, everything has been pretty positive and we’ve found some good settings on the bike. The bike’s balance seems better and it is more consistent - especially on race tyres. I feel I can actually ride the bike now and, when we make small changes, I can feel the changes - and that’s really good. Everything that has happened so far this weekend shows that we are going the right way and the good news is that the bike can get even better. Having Ruben next to me on the second row proves that our bikes have made a good step forward and now we can both look forward to fighting with the top guys right from the start.

Ruben - 7th, 2:00.096
Considering that I had some bike problems today and didn’t put in as many laps as I would’ve liked, it is pretty good to get into final Superpole and start tomorrow’s races from the second row of the grid. The fact that my team mate is on the same row (and next to me) shows us that we are going in the right direction with the bike. I am really happy for myself, but also for the whole team because I know how hard they have worked to get to this stage. Our recent tests were the first time we’ve been able to put everything together and now we are getting closer to a good package. All year, I have said that this is the best team in the paddock. I am so happy to be with them and hope we can get some good results tomorrow before everybody starts their well-deserved summer break.

Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
Firstly I would like to say how very happy I am for the whole team. Today’s results are thanks to all the incredibly hard work they have put in and to get this kind of result shows that we are making the right steps and going in the right direction. Before Superpole we hoped we would qualify for final Superpole, but getting both riders in it made us all more than happy. Troy has had a hard time with injuries recently, so it’s good to see him smiling again and great to see him and Ruben next to each other on the grid. To achieve this result today makes me feel really proud.

Final qualifying
1 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:58.868, 2 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:58.950, 3 Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 1:589.055, 4 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:59.740, 5 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 1:59.787, 6 Troy Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 2:00.046, 7 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 2:00.096,

 

[visian]

Corser set aside my questions about launch control as he pulled a hole shot to take the early lead in both races.

boy, i'll say.

i just about fell off the couch when that beemer outgunned everyone from the second row.

and he made it stick for several laps.

however, xaus's cartwheeling highside must mean there is still more work to be done with engine management.

i hope ruben is not out for the season, but if so, it would be very cool to see someone like Nate Kern or Brian Parriott get the nod.

 

[mika]

snip

however, xaus's cartwheeling highside must mean there is still more work to be done with engine management.

i hope ruben is not out for the season, but if so, it would be very cool to see someone like Nate Kern or Brian Parriott get the nod.

I missed his crash and have not seen any online video of it so I don't know.

I am not certain how they will opt to treat this injury and that will determine how long he is out. There is a month break until the next race. If he is out, and my guess he will be out for at least one race, I hope they find a better rider than the last time. With all due respect to Martin he was not up to the task at Kyalmi.

 

[sit]

I think I scared everyone in my house and the neighbors when Corser took the lead at the start of the first race. Everyone wanted to know what all the yelling was about.

Here is a vid of Xaus' crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcH7s_VIuFM&feature=related

 

[mika]

Thanks for posting the video of Xaus' crash. Ouch!!! While we were trying to figure out who could fill in for him Ruben underwent surgery and is contemplating a return for the next race. Amazing.

From: WorldSBK
Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Ruben Xaus underwent a successful operation on his right femur at the Centro Medico Teknon hospital in Barcelona yesterday and is already looking forward to starting his physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The operation was carried out by surgeons Dr Miquel Llobet and Dr Miguel Sales and involved the insertion of three screws into the femur and went as smoothly as possible. Ruben was discharged from hospital today and will begin his physiotherapy this week at a sports clinic and rehabilitation centre not far from Playa de Aro, north of Barcelona.

"Everything has worked so efficiently" declared Ruben. "I arrived at the hospital yesterday morning and the doctors were already waiting for me. The operation went very well and I had three screws put into my femur and twenty-four hours later they told me I could leave! I want to thank Miquel Llobet and Miguel Sales for doing a great job and all the medical team for looking after me so well.

"I am going to stay in an apartment in Playa de Aro, near the beach, but also because it is very close to where I will be doing my physiotherapy and rehabilitation. At the moment I am on crutches, because I am not allowed to put any weight on my right leg, but I can sit down normally and get about OK. I can start swimming almost straightway and physiotherapy very soon. I am in no pain and I am really looking forward to getting fit and back on my bike again.

"At Brno, our bike was working so well and it was easy to ride, so it was a big shame I crashed. I think the reason I hurt myself was because the gravel had not been raked over and the recent rain had made some of the ridges as hard as concrete. Hitting one of those was what did the damage, otherwise I would've just walked away from the crash without a problem.

"It's good that we have a bit of a break before the next race, but I'm already looking forward to being back at the track. I want to say thank you to the whole team for all their good wishes and tell them to have a good holiday and then get my bikes ready for my return."
Biaggi relives magic Brno moments with SundayÔÇÖs win

Yamaha-motor-europe.com: Highs and lows in Brno as Spies steps closer to Championship lead

motorcyclenews.com: Spies remains confident of capturing Superbike crown

Video of the Fabrizio ÔÇô Spies crash
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[visian]

I think I scared everyone in my house and the neighbors when Corser took the lead at the start of the first race. Everyone wanted to know what all the yelling was about.

Here is a vid of Xaus' crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcH7s_VIuFM&feature=related

man, you didn't need to speak german to undertand those announcers.

heinous high-side. thank God the bike didn't come back and hit him.

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Pirelli report ÔÇô Brno

crash.net: BMW expected to continue in WSBK

If you donÔÇÖt follow F1 you will want to check out the F1 thread. BMW announced today that they are ending their commitment to Formula 1 racing at the end of the 2009 season. This came as a shock to most people. The question has been raised ÔÇô What does this mean to BMW Motorrad Motorsport efforts?

The statement by Norbert Reithofer goes farthest to explain the criteria BMW applied to the F1 decision. Pay attention to the concept of Strategy Number One and its implications for the future of factory racing at BMW.

 

[85138]

If you donÔÇÖt follow F1 you will want to check out the F1 thread. BMW announced today that they are ending their commitment to Formula 1 racing at the end of the 2009 season. This came as a shock to most people. The question has been raised ÔÇô What does this mean to BMW Motorrad Motorsport efforts?

Know the old saw ... win on Sunday, sell on Monday or something like that. Given that the WSB Superbikes are close to the bike they can actually sell I'd think they'd stick with it if results are encouraging. So far so good for a 1st year effort. A few podiums would be nice though and not farfetched if last Sunday's is a resonable indication on progress.

Then there's the flip side ... if the bikes don't sell to expectations, they'd likely can the thing, pack their bags and go home.

 

[mika]

Know the old saw ... win on Sunday, sell on Monday or something like that. Given that the WSB Superbikes are close to the bike they can actually sell I'd think they'd stick with it if results are encouraging. So far so good for a 1st year effort. A few podiums would be nice though and not farfetched if last Sunday's is a resonable indication on progress.

Then there's the flip side ... if the bikes don't sell to expectations, they'd likely can the thing, pack their bags and go home.

I don't think this will impact BMW Motorrad Motorsport at this time. Here is what I posted over in the F1 thread yesterday when the question was raised.


At this time my guess is this is limited to F1

The changes in rules for 2010 made a BMW F1 effort a very questionable enterprise.
- Engines related little to the street. Ferrari, Mercedes and Cosworth have the engine supplier role tied up for the near future. This eliminated any revenue stream for BMW to recover costs and justify development.
- Transmissions - the shift will be to a standard transmission package for all teams again eliminating any development challenge and benefit for BMW
- Chassis building offers some small development in terms of aero packages that could be transferred to cars but this is not worth the cost of running a team. Construction processes for the use of carbon fiber etc have more current applications in bikes in the form of the S1000RR and the HP2 Sport. They have taken over production line issues from F1.
- Sponsor dollars are becoming harder and harder for any team to come by. The well is running dry for all teams.
- Budget: In the end, even under the new rules, the budget for a F1 team will work down from roughly $100 million to $60 million over the next few years. BMW has always had a budget consideration as part of the review process for any corporate effort. Clearly the numbers for F1 have been questionable for some time.

What impact will this have on BMW's World Touring Car efforts? They have been active in the WTCC. This has a 'street' based justification that F1 has never had. My guess is this is under heavy review but will continue for the near future. (note:my predictions are usually a death knell as they are usually wrong )

BMW could consider an expansion of its efforts in other auto series such as the Le Mans and ALM series.

Bikes:
My guess is BMW Motorrad Motorsport plans have been changing for some time.

WSBK
BMW's entrance into Superbike was based on a sales plan not racing. The sales goal for bikes is 150,000 units per year by (IIRC) 2015. To do this they decided they needed to expand the bike markets they participate in. The sport bike market was identified as one area they could expand into and the superbike effort is the flagship model for that move.

Look for BMW Motorrad to complete their factory 5 year plan in this effort. How their effort in the dealer show rooms pans out by say 2013 will have more to do with the continued effort in this area. For the NA market the question is will the bike comply with US rules? Secondly will someone at the national level be found to run a US effort? This would be supported by the factory effort in terms of development but not direct sponsorship. If BMW NA decides that dollars are to be spent from their budget that is where BMW money for a US or CA superbike effort will come from.

The S1000RR may expand into Super Sport racing with privateer efforts that receive some factory support in terms of design and development.

New sport bike models will come in the future if and when BMW sees a segment they can target with a model.

WEC
I believe the factory will exit this class and go endurance racing. The rules for Dakar like events have changed. The 650cc class has been eliminated in favor of only running a 450cc class for bikes. KTM has said it will exit. This leaves the field open for BMW to feature its G450.

Husqvarna
Racing in the dirt will be the purview of the Husky brand for factory efforts. Any G450s that are raced in enduro events will be privateer efforts.




Todays's news

From: WorldSBK
Tamada back and injured again at Brno
Byrnes positive run continues at Brno

motorcyclenews.com: Checa adamant he wants to stay in WSBK for 2010

He still plans on being back for the Nurburgring round
bikesportnews.com: Brno WSB rock hard gravel did the damage - Xaus

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Aprilia celebrates BiaggiÔÇÖs win at Brno

worldusuperbikenews.com: Troy Bayliss to receive lifetime achievement award at Imola

crash. Net: Mat Mladin announces retirment

 

[mika]

From: WorldSBK
Manufacturer’s Championship update
Worldsbk.com takes a break until August 24

motorcyclenews.com: Duacati want to keep Haga and Fabrizio in 2010

fim-live.com: Edwards rules out Aprilia switch

Italian motorcycle version of the old bait and switch?
fim-live.com: Ducati keen on Spies

Brno Race 1 highlights
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Brno Race 2 highlights
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worldsupebikenews.co.uik: WSB Champion – Fred Merkel – What’s he doing now?

 

[mika]

World Superbike is still on break. Frankly I wish I was too.



From: WorldSBK

A bit of PR from BMW Motorrad Motorsport

Tom Talks
Friday, August 14, 2009, 10:18:20 AM | Admin BMW
Tom Larson is one of the most experienced members of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport squad. The Danish Australian used to race himself and has since spent many years at the cutting edge of two-wheeled motorsport, including stints with the Castrol Honda WSBK factory team and Honda RacingÔÇÖs British Superbike teams. Now working as Crew Chief to Troy Corser, Larson is based at Alpha RacingÔÇÖs headquarters in Rosenheim, Germany.

Since starting work with BMW, Tom has already seen the team go through highs and lows in the first half of its debut season but is convinced that the great progress and good results achieved so far wouldnÔÇÖt have been possible without the experience of seasoned campaigners such as Corser and Xaus.

ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖve had our ups and downs already this season but generally things have gone as expected. We were all pretty high at the start of the season and the main reason for this was down to Troy CorserÔÇÖs experience. Since then weÔÇÖve been able to gather loads of vital information and now that we have this info, we need time to react and time to test. We havenÔÇÖt tested anywhere near as much as our competitors ÔÇô many manufacturers have permanent test teams ÔÇô and we have parts that we need to make, not to mention budgets to work to! Fortunately, the people involved in this project are highly motivated and passionate so the current results are realistic and when we get the bikes more dialled in, weÔÇÖll be able to prove the bikeÔÇÖs potential even further.ÔÇØ

One of the many difficult things about bike racing is that there are so many variables and with the increased use of technology, the back of the pit garage at races is packed with computer monitors feeding back data from the S 1000 RRÔÇÖs performance at any chosen part of the circuit, including front and rear wheel speeds, rpm, throttle position, throttle demand, suspension, tyre temperature, a multitude of engine management functions, gearbox temperatures and pressure, engine and water temperature and pressure, and many more besides.

When mapped to various parts of the circuits, the team is able to analyse strengths and weaknesses of the bikes and riders, compare ÔÇÿlike for likeÔÇÖ and effect subtle changes to machine set-up and even riding styles in order to make up the crucial fractions of a second per lap that can be the difference between the front and back rows of the grid.
Entering this championship without the benefit of circuit data gathered from previous years puts you at an instant disadvantage compared with your rivals; however, things have also moved so quickly in terms of this debut superbike project that Tom and the team have sometimes been caught out by their own progress!

ÔÇ£With so many things affecting bike set-up, weÔÇÖve fallen victim to our variables a couple of times. For example, we tested at Monza early on and were pleased with the progress we made ÔÇô the lap times achieved would have put us second on the grid in 2008. However, when we returned with the same bike for this yearÔÇÖs races, everything had changed because the S 1000 RR had evolved so much in a short space of time, forcing us to rethink things!ÔÇØ

For Tom, one of the highlights of 2009 has been seeing the WSBK project gather pace behind the scenes and then feeling the excitement within the factory ÔÇô from both the management and the employees ÔÇô for this new era in BMW Motorsport.

ÔÇ£It was just great to make it to the first race, to be there to see it happen and the excitement of not knowing where this year would take us. ThereÔÇÖs a great feeling coming from Berlin too, as traditionally the company has made great touring bikes and prestige cars, but this is a whole new step for them. Everyone involved knows that this has to be a long-term project ÔÇô especially when thereÔÇÖs an important series production bike due out soon ÔÇô but for now weÔÇÖve been gladly accepted and welcomed into the Superbike World Championship and our rivals are glad to have us there, as it makes a strong series even stronger.ÔÇØ

worldsuperbikenews.co.uk: Michel Fabrizio suffers shoulder injury at MotoGP


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