Munich. It was an action packed weekend for the BMW Motorrad
Motorsport teams and experts with race events in numerous
championships – and it was another successful one. The Assen round
(NED) of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) and
the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship (STK1000) saw strong
outings from the privateer BMW S 1000 RR racers. The BMW riders in
the British Superbike Championship (BSB) stepped onto the podium
again at Oulton Park (GBR) and there have been wins and numerous
podium finishes for the RR in the Malaysia Superbike Championship
(MSC), the new Motorcycle Championship (MOTOCh) and the South
African Motorcycle Road Racing Championship (RSA SBK).
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in Assen, the Netherlands.
The iconic TT Circuit in Assen (NED), known as the “Cathedral of
Speed”, hosted the fourth round of the 2017 MOTUL FIM Superbike World
Championship (WorldSBK). Being the strongest rider in a purely
privateer team, Jordi Torres (ESP / Althea BMW Racing Team) fought
with the factory teams riders for the front positions. In Saturday’s
race one, he set his sights on the top 5, but had to retire on the
penultimate lap due to a flat tyre while lying sixth. In Sunday’s
second race, Torres crossed the line in seventh. His team-mate
Raffaele De Rosa (ITA), who competed his first WorldSBK round of the
season in Assen, was 13th and 17th respectively.
Jordi Torres: “On Saturday, we really had bad luck.
We could have finished fifth or sixth if we hadn’t had the flat rear
tyre. It is always disappointing for the entire team when something
like that happens. Sunday’s race was a lot better. We didn’t have the
best grid position but we tried to give our best during the race. With
the fuel tank getting emptier – and with less grip on the tyres – we
were able to go a good pace and I overtook a lot of riders.”
Raffaele De Rosa: “Considering that this was my first
race in several months, I started with the intention of completing as
many miles as possible, or rather crossing the finish line. I was
pleased on Saturday because I was a little more constant than I was in
the practices. On Sunday I was feeling quite good with my BMW S 1000
RR until about half way through the race. Once the wind picked up, I
had some difficulty managing the bike and I was just trying to get to
the finish line.”
FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship in Assen, the Netherlands.
The Assen race of the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship
(STK1000) had to be red flagged on lap two after several riders were
involved in a crash. After the re-start, nine laps were completed. A
wildcard starter was the highest placed BMW S 1000 RR rider: local
hero Danny De Boer (NED) who competes with team Van Zon-Remeha-BMW in
the Superbike IDM (IDM) this season. After having shown strong
performances in practice and qualifying, the Dutch racer finished the
race – a home round for him and the team – in fourth position.
Sébastian Suchet (SUI / Berclaz Racing Team) was eighth. His
team-mate, former GP racer Federico Sandi (ITA), was involved in the
incident that resulted in the red flag, but fought his way through the
re-started race to finish 11th.
Danny De Boer: “The BMW S 1000 RR was completely new
for me, but my first impression is really positive! I am happy to
start the new season with a result like this. This was a good warm-up
for our IDM season. I want to say thank you to Van Zon-Remeha-BMW!”
Federico Sandi: “The race was really difficult.
Marvin Fritz crashed at the end of the first lap and me and several
others went down when trying to avoid him. I returned to the garage
with some broken parts on the bike. The mechanics were able to repair
it in time for the re-start. Physically, I did not feel very well as
during the crash I had hit the asphalt with my head. My helmet was
really damaged. In the early stages, I was running well in sixth
position but then my head and stomach were seriously aching after the
crash. I finished 11th. I am disappointed because if it had
been a normal race, I could have fought for the win. The bike was
really good.”
British Superbike Championship in Oulton Park, Great Britain.
For the third round of the 2017 British Superbike Championship (BSB),
the teams and riders met at Oulton Park (GBR) at the weekend, with the
races being held on Monday, 1st May. In the first heat of
the Superbike class (BSB SBK), Peter Hickman (GBR) was the highest
placed BMW rider, crossing the line in fifth on his Smiths Racing RR.
Christian Iddon (GBR / Tyco BMW) was eighth. In race two, Iddon came
home in fourth place, missing the podium by only two tenths of a
second. Hickman was seventh.
Jakub Smrz (CZE / Lloyd Jones PR Racing) and Lee Jackson (GBR /
Smiths Racing) also finished both races in the points: Smrz was
13th and 12th, Jackson 15th and 13th.
Christian Iddon: “It was a tough weekend for a number
of reasons but we can take away a lot of positives. Race one was
disappointing but in the second race we were there battling for second
place, so to then lose out on a podium was frustrating – but at least
we are continually in the mix. Thanks to the team for their continued
big effort. We are sitting in a strong championship position, in
third; we just need to keep pushing hard for consistent podiums and
try to grab that elusive win.”
Peter Hickman: “Fifth was a good result in the first
race but I was a bit disappointed to have left the door open on the
last corner. Normally you can hear the bikes behind you but this time
I couldn’t so I thought I had a safe fourth! I was a bit annoyed but
top five was still a good outcome and we made further improvements to
the bike for race two, although again I made an average start. I had
the pace to finish on the podium but it was difficult to pass and then
hold onto the position if you had made a pass. I got bullied a bit and
made a couple of mistakes so rolled off a bit to bring the bike home.”
The Superstock class (BSB STK) race was held in wet and tricky
conditions – and ended with two podium finishes for the BMW S 1000 RR.
Chrissy Rouse (GBR / Mission Racing) was second, closely followed by
Michael Rutter (GBR / Bathams SMT) in third. In addition, four more
BMW racers came home with the top 10: Tom Tunstall (GBR / Integro) was
sixth, Dean Hipwell (GBR / CDH Racing) seventh, Barry Teasdale (GBR /
Bob Henderson Racing) eighth and Matej Smrz (CZE / Lloyd Jones
PR Racing) ninth. Tyco BMW rider Ian Hutchinson (GBR) struggled with
wrong tyre choice and had to settle with 14th.
Ian Hutchinson
: “It was worth the gamble, but didn’t pay off, but
in hindsight, none of the leading championship contenders scored
significant points either, so it hasn’t really affected the
championship table. It’s now road racing time with the NW200 and TT on
the horizon, but we remain in good shape in the Superstock 1000 class
in British championship and will look to return with a strong podium
finish at Knockhill in June.”
Motorcycle Championship at Slovakia Ring, Slovakia.
The debut round of the newly founded Motorcycle Championship (MOTOCh)
saw several podium finishes for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders.
The opening races were held at Slovakia Ring near Bratislava (SVK) at
the weekend. In the first heat, Miloš Cihak (CZE / BMW Motorrad CSEU)
took third on the podium of the Superbike class (MOTOCh SBK), while
his team-mate Richard Balcar (CZE) secured another third position in
the second race. In the Superstock class (MOTOCh STK), Ladislav
Chmelik (CZE / Exteria Racing) finished race one second on the podium.
In race two, Michal Prášek (CZE / Rohac and Feijta motoracing Team)
was second of the STK class, followed by Chmelik in third.
Malaysia Superbike Championship in Sepang, Malaysia.
The second round of the 2017 Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC) at
Sepang International Circuit (MAS) saw two more wins for the BMW
Motorrad Motorsport family. Muhammad Farid Badrul Hisam (MAS / HKM
Times Bike Racing Team) was victorious in both races of the Superbike
class (MSC SBK), also setting the fastest race lap on both occasions
with his RR. With these results, he extended his championship lead.
Linggam Rammoo (MAS / Sports Rider Racing Team) also finished both
races in the top 10: he was eighth and tenth respectively.
In the Superstock class (MSC STK), Nasarudin Mat Yusop (MAS / BMW
Motorrad Malaysia Team) also enjoyed podium honours, setting the
fastest lap and finishing second in race one. Sharulnizam Ramli (MAS /
Kakikloudkartel Racing Team) was fifth, Dominic Chang (SIN / Sports
Rider Racing Team) crossed the line in eighth. In race two, Mat Yusop
was again fastest man on the track and on course for a podium finish
but retired halfway through the race. Ramli was fourth, followed by
Chang in fifth. Abdul Aziz Al Ikram (MAS) completed the top 10 in
tenth place.
South African Motorcycle Road Racing Championship in East
London, South Africa.
For the second round of the 2017 South African Motorcycle Road Racing
Championship (RSA SBK), the BMW teams travelled to East London (RSA).
BMW S 1000 RR rider Lance Isaacs (RSA / Supabets/Sandton BMW Motorrad)
once more stepped onto the podium, finishing the first of the two
races in third. David McFadden (RSA / RPM Center Sandton Auto BMW) in
sixth and Heinrich Rheeder (RSA / Rheeder Racing) in tenth also
claimed top-10 positions. In race two, Isaacs was again the highest
placed BMW racer. After being involved in a thrilling battle for the
podium positions, he crossed the line in fourth. McFadden was eighth.
Lance Isaacs: “It was an awesome race weekend and we
made a massive leap forward. This gives us a lot of confidence as all
the work the entire team had put in since the season opener has
definitely paid off. I want to carry this momentum to the next rounds
that will be held on circuits I really like and I am confident that
our BMW S 1000 RR has the potential to reach the top step of the podium.”
Australian Superbike Championship at Winton Motor Raceway, Australia.
The Winton Motor Raceway (AUS) hosted the third round of the 2017
Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK). Troy Guenther (AUS) of the
NextGen Motorsports team equalled his best result of the season. He
finished the first of the two races in 11th on his BMW S
1000 RR. In the second heat, Guenther crossed the line in 13th.
Troy Guenther: “It was another great weekend with a
load more experience on the BMW S 1000 RR in my rookie Superbike
season. I am really happy with the way I rode over the whole weekend.
My race pace improved with every outing. Of course, we would have
liked to finish the races higher up in the field, but all in all it
was a great weekend.”