BMW Motorrad Motorsport will be competing with Shaun Muir Racing in the WorldSBK – with a well-known rider duo: Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger.

Munich. In the upcoming 2019 season, BMW Motorrad Motorsport
will compete in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) with
the new BMW S 1000 RR. This will take place in collaboration with
Shaun Muir Racing. The British team headed by Shaun Muir will appear
as

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
and will be competing with a well-known riding duo: the 2013
Superbike World Champion Tom Sykes (GBR) and the reigning European
Superstock 1000 Champion and three-time IDM champion Markus
Reiterberger (GER).

 

The collaboration with Shaun Muir Racing reflects a significant
expansion of BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s involvement in WorldSBK.
Simultaneously, the successful customer racing programme will continue
to operate in numerous other international and national race series. A
structure adjustment will take place within BMW Motorrad as a result
of this expanded involvement. Marc Bongers, previously Technical
Director at BMW Motorrad Motorsport, will become BMW Motorrad
Motorsport Director and report directly to the Head of BMW Motorrad,
Dr. Markus Schramm. In addition, BMW Motorrad Motorsport and BMW Group
Motorsport will increase their use of synergies. The objective is to
bundle competencies from automobile and motorcycle racing, especially
with regard to commercial and logistical topics.

 

Within the cooperation with Shaun Muir Racing in WorldSBK, BMW
Motorrad Motorsport will be responsible for the development of engine,
electronics, chassis and aerodynamics. All other areas of testing and
competitive racing are the responsibility of Shaun Muir Racing.

 

The new BMW S 1000 RR made its public debut at a presentation on
6th November, at the EICMA in Milan (ITA). BMW Motorrad
Motorsport is currently developing the motor racing components, which
will be used to modify the new superbike for competition at the top
level of close-to-production motorbikes.

 

The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has chosen a strong rider duo with
plenty of experience and talent for the 2019 season. Tom Sykes has
been competing in WorldSBK since 2008 and was crowned Superbike World
Champion in 2013. The 33-year-old has recorded 34 wins and chalked up
a total of 108 podiums. His performances in qualifying have also been
impressive: Sykes has set 48 pole positions to claim the record in the
Superbike World Championship. Sykes will compete with the BMW S 1000
RR for the first time in 2019.

 

His new team-mate Markus Reiterberger has long enjoyed a close
relationship with BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “Reiti” started his
international career with BMW in 2011 with the FIM Superstock 1000
Cup. He claimed his first two International German Motorcycle
Championship (IDM) titles in 2013 and 2015. In 2013, Reiterberger also
scored his first world championship points as a guest rider in the
WorldSBK race at the Nürburgring (GER). He completed his first full
WorldSBK season in 2016 and caused a stir by claiming fifth place in
Thailand. In 2017, Reiterberger decided to return to the IDM and
secured his third title there. In the recently-completed 2018 season,
the 24-year-old BMW rider was crowned European Champion in the FIM
Superstock 1000 European Championship.

 

Quotes regarding the 2019 WorldSBK season.

 

Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad: “Motorsport
has been an integral feature of the BMW Motorrad success story for
nearly 100 years. That is why our international racing activities are
extremely important for our brand. Therefore, competing with our new
BMW S 1000 RR in the top level of close-to-production racing, the FIM
Superbike World Championship, is the logical next step. The 2019
season will help us set a new course for our involvement in the
WorldSBK and expand this significantly. We are convinced that our BMW
Motorrad Motorsport racing department, together with Shaun Muir Racing
and two top riders, Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger, will meet this
challenge with distinction.”

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “We
are moving up a gear for next season in the Superbike World
Championship. In addition to the development of the core components,
engine and electronics, we are now also responsible for development of
the chassis and the aerodynamics. In both of these areas, development
was previously the preserve of our customer teams. We are very much
looking forward to working together with Shaun Muir and his team. We
must remain realistic when setting our goals for the 2019 season. The
BMW S 1000 RR is a brand-new motorbike and there is just a short space
of time available for development. This means that our first season
will primarily be about developing the bike further under race
conditions and making it competitive, as quickly as possible. We
intend to continuously improve and then take the next step forward in
the battle against the strength of the pure works teams. Of course,
the long-term shared objective for BMW Motorrad Motorsport and Shaun
Muir Racing is to record some top placings and be involved in the
battle for the title. We will have to take it step by step.”

 

Shaun Muir,
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Principal: “This is a very exciting project for SMR
to be involved in. It is quite clear, the focus and dedication from
everyone involved, that we aim to be competitive with the new BMW S
1000 RR very quickly. We know, however, that the RR is a brand-new
bike and that we have to take step by step, but we all work hard and
focus to make this project a successful one. The decision to sign
former WorldSBK Champion Tom Sykes, and current European Superstock
Champion Markus Reiterberger, reflects the ambition the BMW Motorrad
WorldSBK Team has, in challenging at the front in the Superbike World
Championship. Tom joins the team totally focused and full of
enthusiasm, ready for this new chapter in his illustrious racing
career. Markus returns to the WorldSBK as Superstock Champion, with a
strong pedigree of success on BMW Motorrad machinery. The SMR team and
BMW Motorrad Motorsport development team are working hard together
with the preparation and development of the new Superbike. We are at
the stage where both riders will have their initial test in the
comings weeks, before further testing in January and February prior to
departing for Phillip Island, Australia and round one of the 2019 WorldSBK.”

 

Tom Sykes: “I am very excited to join the new BMW
project in the WorldSBK Championship. I believe that the BMW and Shaun
Muir Racing partnership is an outstanding opportunity and
understand that we all share the same goals of where we want to be. I
am looking forward to the start of the pre-season testing where I will
get my first taste of the new BMW S 1000 RR and begin my new challenge
and adventure.”

 

Markus Reiterberger: “I am overjoyed to have the
chance to return to the WorldSBK. I am also really happy to be staying
with the BMW family, and to be competing for a good and experienced
team. I am forward to working with my new team-mate Tom Sykes as well.
I have a huge amount of respect for him; he has already been world
champion and has been one of the very best for years. It is fantastic
to have him as a team-mate. I can still learn a lot from him and I
hope that we will be able to work together to return the ‘propeller’
brand to the front. However, we need to be careful not to set our
expectations too high. We have a new motorbike and we are in a new
team. We just need to try to be improving all the time and make sure
that we prepare well for the start of the season. That is our job and
if we can all pull together, we will be successful for a long time. I
am really looking forward to this new challenge and I am very
optimistic. Thanks to everyone who has supported me and given me this
new chance in the WorldSBK.”