BMW to concentrate on World Superbike Championship before returning to MotoGP
German Automobile Manufacturer Company, BMW will not enter MotoGP in the next 2012 campaign.
BMW Motorrad General Director Hendrik von Kuenheim said that the company wants to participate in premier class motorcycle racing after getting victories in World Superbike Championship with S1000RR.
Kuenheim was asked about the team’s interest to compete in the MotoGP, but he denied the rumours and said, “As things stand we see no reason to query our involvement in the Superbike World Championship. We have to win in Superbikes before thinking of anything
else. MotoGP is not an issue right now. However, BMW Motorrad is closely monitoring all developments in the MotoGP World Championship. But one thing is very clear: there has been no decision taken.”
According to rumours, BMW will be entering the premier class after the new MotoGP regulations claimed that the 2012 season will re-live the sensational 1000cc engines. The 800cc engines will be replaced after three seasons in the premier class.
At the MotoGP season opener round held at Losail, Qatar, the General Director was present to catch a glimpse of the event. Following the race, he also met CEO Dorna Sports SL, Carmelo Ezpeleta which further fuelled the rumours. However, when he was asked
about his meeting with Ezpeleta, he told that it was an informal lunch.
The reality of the BMW participation is that the company has provided a power plant of the S1000RR engine to the Swiss chassis design company Marc VDS. The team will have home designed chassis with a powerhouse of BMW mass-produced engine for the S1000RR.
The team is programmed to get in the MotoGP line up by 2012 season.
The WSBK success story for BMW is not what they had hoped for. They have four podium finishes on third place, two from each rider, Leon Haslam and Troy Corser. In the previous season, Troy Corser won the pole position at San Marino.
International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) has shortlisted 11 teams with 16 riders after the second round of the application process. The present listed teams are supposed to submit a security amount to Dorna Sports by June 3, 2011 which is before the Catalunya
event. After the race, a final list of the selected teams will be revealed.
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