BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team continues its season preparation with a double test in Spain and Portugal.

Jerez de la Frontera/Portimão. In its preparation for the 2019
season in the FIM World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK), the BMW
Motorrad WorldSBK Team completed a double test. On Wednesday and
Thursday, the team took it to the track with riders Tom Sykes (GBR)
and Markus Reiterberger (GER) at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. On
Sunday and Monday, two more days of testing followed at Portimão in Portugal.

 

During the two tests, the team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport worked
through a comprehensive test programme with the brand-new BMW S 1000
RR. Numerous further development steps in the areas of electronics,
chassis and brakes were evaluated. In addition, there was more
fine-tuning of the handle-bar and seat positions to achieve optimum
ergonomics for both riders.

 

On Monday at Portimão, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team also presented
the new livery of the WorldSBK BMW S 1000 RR based on the iconic BMW
Motorsport colours.

 

The next stop for the team is Australia. Two more days of testing are
scheduled for 18th and 19th February at Phillip
Island, south-east of Melbourne. The same venue will then host the
2019 WorldSBK season opener from 22nd to 24th February.

 

Reactions to the tests at Jerez de la Frontera and Portimão.

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “In
general, we draw a positive conclusion from the tests. The weather was
good, and that helped us to work off many of the previously defined
test points. Unfortunately, Tom’s unlucky crash at Jerez set us back a
bit, but it did not restrict our programme significantly. The tests
have also shown that we are already reliable at this early stage of
the project, when many new parts are installed on the bike – even
though we only have six days of testing behind us. As for the lap
times, we can also be quite satisfied. We were able to constantly
increase and draw positive conclusions. But of course we take back a
lot of data, ideas and thus work home. Now it is time to clearly
define the final specification for the first races and to be ready by
8th February. Today the motorcycles will make their way to Australia.”

 

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK
Team:
“The progress and development of the new BMW S 1000 RR
has been very positive so far. From the shakedown test at Almeria we
established a good base setting which gave a clear direction to work
on. The SMR team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport engineers have done a
great job together in getting the Superbike to a good level. Overall I
am feeling positive with the way the tests went. Both riders worked
their way through the test programme.”

 

Tom Sykes: “I just want to say a big thank you to the
whole BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. At these tests, we’ve continued and
progressed in a really positive way, making a big step in the
development of the BMW S 1000 RR. We have been working on the balance
of the bike, trying out different parameters to see what feedback we
get, and also testing new components for the brakes, suspension and
electronics. So in general, a lot has been covered and it’s another
step closer to the WorldSBK opener in Phillip Island next month.”

 

Markus Reiterberger: “I am quite happy with the way
the test went. We tested a lot on the brakes, suspension and the
electronics and made good progress with that. We also worked on my
seat position and made a change on my rear-shock and on Sunday at
Portimão I was feeling very positive and my lap time improved from
session to session. Monday unfortunately I did not have the same
feeling, but we collected a lot of data from the test to work with. I
have a great team around me so I am confident I will get a good
feeling on the bike in Phillip Island.”