I was there at the race event for 4 days, and it was magnificent!  Utah's location meant the event was relatively small, and we had access to the race pits and got some great photos, and had a superb time rubbing elbows with the Motorrad team and BMW USA.  The development is going very well, and next year we can expect podiums; the S1000RR is exactly on target and is doing what Motorrad wants/expects it to.  Sales are over the top - it's the best homologated superbike ever made street legal by far!

Salt Lake City - Races.

Monday, 31 May 2010.

Weather conditions: Overcast.
Temperature: Air: 20 - 26 °C, Track: 20 - 44 °C
Number of riders participating: 21 from 12 teams
Fastest lap Race 1: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:48.045 min
Fastest lap Race 2: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:48.148 min


Twice from 15 to fifth: Troy Corser (AUS) scored two more top five finishes for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport on Monday in Salt Lake City in the 2010 FIM Superbike World Championship. Team mate Ruben Xaus (ESP) finished tenth and 11th  on the seventh race weekend in Utah. For the young team it was the second best result so far. In total, in 2010 the team has finished in the top five six times.

In the manufacturers' standings Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport has now scored 130 points and is in sixth. In 2009 after seven races the team had only scored 60 points. Troy has scored 127 points in the rider's championship and is seventh, while Ruben is in 14th  with 53 points.

Race 1: Troy proved to be a great starter: Just before turn 1, he made it from 15th  on the grid to fourth. He was passed by Leon Haslam (GBR) and Noriyuki Haga (JPN) on lap six. He finished the race fifth as Carlos Checa (ESP) had to retire. Ruben started well and was eighth after the first lap. He finished tenth.

Race 2: Again, a rocket start for Troy - he jumped from 15th  to third. Ruben made up four positions at the start. Unfortunately neither rider was able to maintain this position, and finally finished fifth and 11th  respectively.


Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Result Race 1: 5th , Gap to 1st: 00:11.150 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:49.038 min
Result Race 2: 5th , Gap to 1st: 00:09.473 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:48.432 min
"Overall, we should be happy today. Nevertheless I was disappointed with the Superpole result as I had to start both races from the fourth row. In the first race I had to fight with chattering, and I had some trouble with the edge grip. We changed the rear spring and made a few adjustments. The bike definitely felt better, but the problem came back again when the tyre went away after a couple of laps. We now know what we have to improve."


Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Result Race 1: 10th , Gap to 1st : 00:16.502 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:49.309 min
Result Race 2: 11th , Gap to 1st : 00:26.823 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:49.132 min
"To be honest I am disappointed with today. I got great starts in both races and I was right with the top guys. I just couldn't do the times over the race distance. The team and I have worked tirelessly all weekend and made some real steps forward, but today we just couldn't make it happen in the races. Still the team did a great job and I must thank them for that, and also compliments to Troy because he did so well. I just wish I could have been up there with him. I hope we can join him at the front in Misano."


Berthold Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director):
"It is good to go back to Europe with two more top five results. After Sunday's Superpole result I was not expecting to do as well as we did today. I am really happy with the performance from both Troy and Ruben. Nevertheless, we had some problems today, especially with tyre wear. We have to learn from that, and we know that we still have some work to do. Last year at this circuit in particular we struggled - so to achieve what we did today is a real step forward. Congratulations to the entire team once again for what they have achieved with a lot of hard work. I feel sorry for Carlos Checa who did a great job today but was very unlucky."

Salt Lake City - Qualifying Practice 2 & Superpole.
Sunday, 30 May 2010.



Weather conditions: Sunny.
Temperature: Air: 19 - 24°C, Track: 28 - 44°C
Number of riders participating: 21 from 12 teams
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing) 1:48.115 min
Fastest lap Superpole 3: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:47.081 min


Mixed emotions for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport after the Superpole Qualifying at Miller
Motorsport Park close to Salt Lake City (USA): Although neither of the BMW, riders Ruben Xaus (ESP) and Troy Corser (AUS), made it into the final session, both riders' lap times on race tyres were not too bad. In the end, Ruben missed Superpole 3 by only the blink of an eye and finished ninth. Troy crashed on his flying lap in the second Superpole session, but luckily returned to the garage unhurt. He will start tomorrow's races from 15th.


Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:49.477 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:49.580 min /
Fastest lap Superpole 2: 1:48.141 min
"On the one hand I am disappointed because I missed the final Superpole session by just two
hundredths of a second, while on the other hand I am really happy: If someone had told me
yesterday I would start ninth, I would not have believed it. We were looking for a good position on the grid. Now I am hoping for good starts tomorrow. I am optimistic for tomorrow as I believe our pace on race tyres is good."


Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:48.318 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:49.311 min /
Fastest lap Superpole 2: 1:48.706 min
"I have reason to be happy. I can do good lap times on the race tyre and the bike settings feel quite good. Unfortunately the qualifying tyre was not easy to ride on. I had chattering on the out lap, and when I approached turn 1 on my flying lap I braked, as usual, but when I released the brake I fell off the bike. I tried not to damage the bike too much, and I am happy not to be hurt. I hope I can take advantage of the long straight before turn 1 when starting tomorrow's races."


Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
"We have improved a lot today. Both riders did good lap times on the race tyre, but the result of the Superpole is a bit unlucky: Ruben missed the final Superpole session only by two hundredths of a second. Troy obviously compromised a possible starting position from one of the two front rows with a crash. However, in the morning he showed he is quick. I am looking forward to tomorrow's races."

MOTOGP

Suter to test BMW powered 1000cc bike
The bike is on course for a 2011 debut should Dorna open up the entry to allow 1000cc bikes a year earlier than planned
Moto2 front runner Suter is close to making its MotoGP debut after it was revealed that plans to test a BMW-engined 1000cc machine are reaching an advanced stage.

The Swiss constructor is currently developing a prototype to hit the track in the next couple of months, possibly as early as July or August when it could join its prospective MotoGP rivals in a group test following the Czech Grand Prix at Brno.

“We think we can have the bike on track already in July,” GPOne.com quotes Eskil Suter as saying. “We would like to be ready for the second MotoGP test at Brno in mid-August. Our rider would likely be Roberto Rolfo, who is already our test rider for Moto2.”

The move to the premier class would coincide with the decision to revert back to 1000cc bikes from 2012, although it is anticipated the option to race a larger capacity bike could be brought forward to 2011 in a bid to boost ailing grid numbers.

The eponymous owner is no stranger to MotoGP having had a hand in developing MotoGP chassis for Kawasaki, Ilmor and Petronas in the past.

Suter is currently competing as a constructor in the inaugural Moto2 series where the chassis has proven to be a popular option with 13 customers in a field of approximately 40 riders.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport - WSBK - Salt Lake City - Preview

Munich/Stephanskirchen, 21st May 2010. The teams in the FIM Superbike World Championship are preparing for the next and final overseas race weekend of the season at Salt Lake City, USA from 29th – 31st May. The programme for the weekend will be put back a day from the normal schedule, the first free practice session taking place on Saturday and the races on Monday. This is because in the US the last Monday in May is traditionally set aside for Memorial Day, a public holiday to honour soldiers who have died serving their country.  Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport will make the journey across the Atlantic with 108 World Championship points already in the bank after the first six race weekends of the season – 49 more than at the same stage of 2009.

Troy Corser:

“Last year we didn’t have our best weekend in the States. We just couldn’t keep pace with the top riders and teams. Salt Lake City lies at a higher altitude than all the other circuits on the calendar, and that has an impact on engine output. But that’s not our main problem. The area we need to work on most is the chassis. The key here is to be clever with our chassis settings to increase mechanical grip, so that the electronics have to cut in as little as possible. I’ve got a few ideas which I’m keen to put into action at Salt Lake City.”

Ruben Xaus:

“I’m looking forward to Salt Lake City. I’m feeling good on the bike, and that makes it easy for me as a rider. I hope that we can take another step forward in America. I’ve only raced here twice before, so we don’t have as much experience of this track as we do of other places. Plus, we don’t test here.

This circuit is very long and has some interesting corners. However, its altitude means the engines lose some of their power, and no rider likes that. The track is technically very demanding and it’s very important to find a good set-up for the bike.”

Berthold Hauser, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:

“The race weekend at Miller Motorsports Park marks the halfway point in the season, and we can be pleased with our record so far in 2010. We celebrated our first podium at Monza, and both riders have a lot more points than at the same stage of last season. Indeed, Troy has collected more points than he managed over the whole of 2009. And in the manufacturers’ standings we already have 108 points, 49 more than after the sixth race weekend last year.

Following the weekend in South Africa, the races in the US will also take place at a higher than usual altitude. The lower air density here causes the engines to lose around 20 per cent of their output. In our rookie season last year we weren’t able to make the most of our relatively high engine power on the long straights. In order to compare the calculated drop-off in output with actual values, we tested the BMW S 1000 RR in the altitude test facility at the BMW Energy and Environmental Test Centre in Munich. We are expecting to line up at Salt Lake City with a good bike for our riders.”

Background:

Salt Lake City has a population of approximately 180,000 and lies on the eastern side of the Great Salt Lake. Both the city and the state of Utah as a whole are centres of Mormonism.  The Miller Motorsports Park is located some 30 minutes by car from Utah’s capital Salt Lake City and is one of North America’s most cutting-edge motor sport facilities. As well as hosting US motorcycle races, it has also been a regular venue for car racing series – such as the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) – since its opening in 2006. The riders in the Superbike World Championship have been competing on the 4.907-kilometre-long circuit since 2008. Miller Motorsports Park is a paradise for motor sport fans. Visitors to the Performance Training Center can take the opportunity to improve their own riding or driving skills before admiring some of the world’s most spectacular racing cars in the Larry H. Miller Museum. And this weekend it will not only be the Superbike engines raising the decibel levels in Utah, as classic rock bands Styx, Foreigner and Kansas take to the stage at the circuit as part of the support programme for the race weekend.

Grip is literally thin on the ground at Salt Lake City, which means the bike has to be set up to generate as much mechanical grip as possible. Plus, the altitude of the track means engine output is extremely important. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport engineers have come up with a special set-up for this circuit to give the bike perfect responses through the numerous changes of direction of the infield section.

Memorial Day goes back to the American Civil War. Traditionally, Americans use this day to visit cemeteries and memorials, and the US flag flies at half mast from dawn until noon. The day also marks the beginning of the summer season, and the weekend brings with it another major motor sport occasion: the Indianapolis 500, the world’s oldest and most historic circuit race for cars.

PODIUMS AND CRASH BARRIERS FOR JENTIN RACING-BMW MOTORRAD AT CADWELL

Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad riders Steve Brogan and Richard Cooper experienced a mixed weekend at Cadwell Park's first British Superbike round of the year. There was double podium joy for Brogan moderated by an unavoidable crash for Cooper.

Brogan started from twentieth on the British Superbike grid with his BMW S 1000 RR Evo. His final qualifying lap was cut short when a tilt switch was damaged by a dislodged battery which had come loose after a few heavy landings over the Mountain.

Cooper, meanwhile, suffered a big free practice crash on his Superstock S 1000 RR when it spat him over the highside at the bottom of the Mountain. Cooper himself was fine but the bike was badly damaged and he was unable to take part in the first qualifying session, missing out on vital setup time and  eventually finished on the fifth row.

Brogan said: "I had a great start in race one, I rode really aggressively on the first lap and made it up to thirteenth. I was mixing it with the full-spec Superbikes for a few laps, and was pulling away from Hudson Kennaugh, my closest championship rival.

"I was pushing hard but mid-race I had a few moments trying to keep up with the Superbikes. I was getting some good pit signals and knew that my lead in the Evo class was safe so rather than risk a crash I settled in for a safe first. It was great to be at the top of the podium again.

"I had the twelfth-fastest lap in race one so I was jumped up the grid for the second leg. I got a good start and the race settled down for me pretty quickly. The bike was feeling great and I knocked off the laps and continually pulled away from the Evos behind me. I was chasing down the Superbikes but didn't manage to catch them before the flag. It was a good win; I was fourteen seconds ahead of my closest rival.

"I'm really pleased as the double win means we are now only six points off Kennaugh and the championship lead."

Cooper added: "To be honest it's been a struggle all weekend. It didn't help that I crashed in practice and then missed the first qualifying session. But the team pulled out all the stops and got the bike ready for qualifying. I didn't have the best session as I was fighting to hold on to the bike, it's a real missile, but I wasn't too unhappy with my position given the lack of track time.

"I rode a solid first lap and started to pick off the guys in front getting up to eighth and then settled down in to the chasing pack. The pace was hot but I felt comfortable and the bike was working really well. On lap eight, the safety car came out for a lap and bunched us all back up. The racing was pretty tough, but good fun, and coming into the final lap I was ready to make a move on the guys in front when Whitman lost the front going into the chicane, which pushed me onto the grass and out of the race.

"It's a real shame not to reward the team with at least a top ten for all the work that's gone in this weekend, but that's racing."

Team manager Bernie Toleman summed up: "Overall it's been an excellent weekend that has been tainted with disappointment. It has been really enjoyable but so far this season it seems that we go well in one championship and have bad luck in the other!

"Steve has been magnificent this weekend. He dominated the Evo class with two first places and maximum points and closed the gap on the championship lead to just six points.

"Richard had an accident in practice one, which was a real shame, and that put him on the back foot for the rest of the weekend. We were unable to get the bike repaired in time for the second session and he lost valuable track time, which left him with a lot to do in the race. He fought hard and was looking to have secured a top ten finish but was unlucky to be involved in the accident on the final lap.

"Our Superbike performance was superb but due to some bad luck our Superstock performance was disappointing but there's still a long season ahead."

MCE British Superbikes & Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO Championship

Race 1

1 Ryuichi KIYONARI Honda - HM Plant Honda
2 Michael LAVERTY Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki
3 Michael RUTTER Ducati - RidersMotorcycles.Com
4 Tommy BRIDEWELL Honda - Quay Garage Honda
5 Josh BROOKES Honda - HM Plant Honda
6 John LAVERTY Kawasaki - Buildbase Kawasaki
7 Chris WALKER Kawasaki - MSS Colchester Kawasaki
8 Martin JESSOPP Ducati - RidersMotorcycles.Com
9 Alastair SEELEY Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki by TAS
10 Dan LINFOOT Yamaha - Motorpoint Yamaha
14 E Steve BROGAN BMW - Jentin Racing - BMW Motorrad
Race 2

1 Josh BROOKES Honda - HM Plant Honda
2 Tommy HILL GBR Suzuki - Worx Crescent Suzuki
3 Michael LAVERTY GBR Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki by TAS
4 Michael RUTTER GBR Ducati - RidersMotorcycles.Com
5 John LAVERTY GBR Kawasaki - Buildbase Kawasaki
6 Tommy BRIDEWELL GBR Honda - Quay Garage Honda
7 Alastair SEELEY GBR Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki by TAS
8 Chris WALKER GBR Kawasaki - MSS Colchester Kawasaki
9 Martin JESSOPP GBR Ducati - RidersMotorcycles.Com
10 Stuart EASTON GBR Honda - Swan Honda
14 E Steve BROGAN GBR BMW - Jentin Racing - BMW Motorrad


Metzeler National Superstock 1000

1 Jon KIRKHAM BMW - Jon Kirkham Racing / Clarks BMW
2 Tristan PALMER BMW - TP Racing
3 Scott SMART Ducati - Moto Rapido
4 Luke QUIGLEY Suzuki - Formwise-Astro Racing
5 Glen RICHARDS Honda - Padgetts Motorcycles
6 Conor CUMMINS Kawasaki - Blackhorse Kawasaki
7 Howie MAINWARING Kawasaki - MSS Colchester Kawasaki
8 Barry BURRELL Kawasaki - Buildbase Kawasaki
9 Jimmy STORRAR Suzuki - Jimmy Storrar Racing
10 John McGUINNESS Honda - Padgetts Motorcycles
DNF Richard COOPER BMW - Jentin Racing - BMW Motorrad
For further information please contact:
Scott Grimsdall - Team Press Officer
Tel: 07809 840 013
E-mail: scott.grimsdall@jardine-international.com