Nürburgring - Free Practice & Qualifying Practice 1.
Friday, 03. September 2010.


Weather conditions: Light clouds.
Temperature: Air: 19 - 21 °C, Track: 31 - 33 °C
Number of riders participating: 22 from 13 teams
Fastest lap Free Practice: Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing) 1:56.571 min
Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:55.232 min


Programme:
Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser (AUS) had a very satisfying Friday at
the Nürburgring (GER). He finished the first day of the team's home event of the 2010
FIM Superbike World Championship in an encouraging second, and is happy after a very
productive Friday. Ruben Xaus (ESP) was still struggling to find rear grip and finished 14th .
Xaus and the team are confident they will find a solution before tomorrow's Superpole.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport also wants to congratulate Sami Penna. The Finn is one of
the successful riders of the BMW S 1000 RR in national championships and has
celebrated an early title victory in the Nordic Superbike Championship.

Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:57.250 min (9th ) / Fastest lap Qualifying 1: 1:55.447 min (2nd)
"This morning we just ran the bike the way it was when we finished in Silverstone,
because I was quite happy with the settings we found for the second race there. We had
to adjust the springs at the front a little bit, and also the rear of the bike to find some grip.
We have also been working on the gearbox. Now I am pretty happy and confident for the
rest of the weekend."

Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:57.835 min (15th ) / Fastest lap Qualifying 1: 1:56.799 min
(14th)
"The practice was quite okay. We are already faster here with this bike than we were last
year. There is nothing else I could ask for. But I need some more grip. That is our only
problem. The bike is getting better and better, but we have no grip at all. As soon as we
find the solution I am sure we can be at the top again."

Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
"We are very happy about Troy's performance, while for Ruben we are still struggling with
rear grip. I am pretty sure Ruben can improve tomorrow while we think that with Troy we
can fight for the podium on Sunday."

Podium success for Husqvarna and Salminen at EWC GP of Greece
BMW Husqvarna Motorsport rider Juha Salminen has made a successful return to racing after injury, claiming a runner-up result in the Enduro 2 class on day two of the GP of Greece. In doing so Juha gave Husqvarna’s new TE449 machine it’s first world championship podium result. Returning to action having been forced to sit out rounds three, four and five of the ’10 EWC series following a foot injury, Salminen wasted no time in getting himself and his new machine up to speed and after placing a strong fourth in class on day one placed as a deserved runner-up on day two.
With temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius during both days of competition at the sixth round of the ’10 Enduro World Championship the Greek event proved to be one of the championship’s toughest to date. But for Salminen the extreme heat and dry conditions were no problem as the former seven-time world champion made light work of the event’s varied and challenging special tests. Just over one-minute behind class winner Ivan Cervantes on day one Juha upped his game on day two to move to the second step of the podium and marked his return to racing in no uncertain terms.
Marko Tarkkala also delivered strong results for the BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team in Greece placing just outside the top 10 on day one and then in sixth on day two. Bad luck prevented Marko from finishing higher up the E2 class results on day one as the Finn damaged his rear brake lever on one of the extreme tests, which hampered his performance and lost him precious time. Bouncing back on day two Marko placed a strong sixth.
The BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team will next be in action in the Enduro World Championship at the GP of Turkey, which takes place on September 4/5.

Juha Salminen – Enduro 2 class: ‘I’m pretty pleased with the way I’ve ridden this weekend. Firstly, it was good to be back racing again after such a long time off. The foot that I injured didn’t give me any problems, but I certainly know I’ve ridden for two long days. The heat wasn’t really a problem for me but the dust was pretty bad in places. I found it really difficult on the first lap on day one as I had to find my rhythm again. Once I was comfortable I could start pushing harder. I made a few small mistakes during the first lap on day two but otherwise everything went well. I had a good result on day two here last year and again this year it’s been a good second day. Hopefully I can continue that in Turkey next weekend.’

Marko Tarkkala – Enduro 2 class: ‘Although my result from day one wasn’t so good generally I didn’t have such a bad day. My one big problem was that I hit my rear brake pedal on something on one of the extreme tests and bent it really badly. I bent it underneath the foot peg and lost quite a lot of time. Apart from that the day went ok. It was very hot but it wasn’t a problem for me. Day two was better. I made some small mistakes but I think all riders did on the enduro test. The important thing was to improve my result, which I did with sixth.’

2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Greece – Day 1

Enduro 2
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 54.57:82; 2. Mika Ahola (Honda) 54.59:07; 3. Pierre-Alexandre Renet (KTM) 56.09:14; 4. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 56.14:50; 5. Rodrig Thain (TM) 56.21:98; 6. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 56.51:33; 7. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 57.05:76; 8. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 57.13:76; 9. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 57.15:17; 10. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 57.25:11; 11. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 57.48:79; 12. Hans Vogels (Husaberg) 58.21:59; 13. Jordi Figueras (Gas Gas) 58.26:66; 14. Fabien Planet (Sherco) 58.35:39; 15. Jeff Goblet (Yamaha) 58.49:34; 16. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 59.19.52; 17. Stamatios Mantas (KTM) 1:07.25:22; 18. Dimitris Tsakatasonis (KTM) 1:10.11:75; 19. Elefterios Panetis (Husaberg) 1.15:29.43

2010 Enduro World Championship
Grand Prix of Greece – Day 2

Enduro 2
1. Mika Ahola (Honda) 53.22:16; 2. Juha Salminen (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 55.01:89; 3. Pierre Alexandre Renet (KTM) 55.26:85; 4. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 55.39:45; 5. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 55.42:24; 6. Marko Tarkkala (BMW Husqvarna Motorsport) 55.46:52; 7. Hans Vogels (Husaberg) 56.19:58; 8. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 56.35:81; 9 Fabien Planet (Sherco) 57.05:34; 10. Jordi Figueras (Gas Gas) 57.13:73; 11. Fabrizio Dini (Beta) 57.16:61; 12. Jeff Goblet (Yamaha) 57.30:84; 13. Valtteri Salonen (Husaberg) 57.34:05; 14. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 58.35:11; 15. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 58.40:94; 16. Elefterios Panetis (Husaberg) 1:10.54:42

Three wins and a lap record for Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad at Cadwell Park

Sporadic rain, high winds and a broken thumb couldn't stop Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad as the team leave Cadwell Park with three race wins, a new Superstock 1000 lap record and a 48-point BSB-EVO championship lead.

Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad's Superstock 1000 rider Richard Cooper returned to racing with a bang at Cadwell Park following a three-race break to recover from an arm pump operation. The Nottinghamshire lad rode his BMW S 1000 RR hard to secure his first Superstock pole position on Saturday and followed it up with his first Superstock win of the season - despite racing with what turned out to be a painfully broken thumb from his wind-assisted fall in qualifying.

Richard got a good start and held onto second place behind fellow BMW rider Jon Kirkham until lap five when he got a good drive out of Barn to pass at Coppice, leading the race until the chequered flag fell.

The icing on the cake came when Cooper smashed the class lap record not once but twice - becoming the first Superstock rider to break the 1.30 barrier with a stunning 1.29.956 on lap six. The Metzeler National Superstock 1000 race ended with four BMW S 1000 RRs in the top five

Richard Cooper said: "It's been a mega comeback weekend! I don't think you could have written it. The team have been so supportive over the six weeks I've been off and I owe a massive thank you to BMW Motorrad and the team. I had to deliver something in return for that - and we've done it in the best way possible!

"To take my first Superstock win and a second for the team is a fantastic outcome - me and Tristan now have one apiece - and to take the lap record really just topped the weekend off. Thanks again to everyone involved. Oh, I've just been to the medical centre for an x-ray of my thumb, turns out I broke it in yesterday's crash! Oh well!"

Fellow Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad Superstock rider Tristan Palmer fought hard on a brand new bike and took fifth place, which sees him move ahead of Howard Mainwaring to secure second place in the championship behind BMW rider Jon Kirkham - who extended his championship lead to 65 points.

Tristan Palmer said: "I'm quite happy - but a little disappointed because we qualified third and had been hoping to be battling for the win. But considering we've had to build the bike in only seven days, it was a good performance. We'll keep refining the bike and have it just right for Croft in two weeks time. And I've strengthened my second place in the championship which is not a bad spot to be in."

Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO rider Steve Brogan secured a double victory - and the much-desired championship lead. Race one went smoothly with Brogan building an early lead and winning with a 0.8s gap on second-placed rider Gary Johnson.

Race two was two-thirds complete, with Brogan and Johnson battling up through the overall standings. On lap nine, the Liverpudlian rider managed to overtake Walker and put another rider between him and EVO challenger Johnson - but the AIM Suzuki rider soon closed the gap. But the race was brought to an early close when a highsided exiting the chicane and the race red flagged - giving Brogan his second EVO win of the day. Steve now has a 48-point lead in the championship.

Steve Brogan said: "I had fun in the first race - it was nice and straightforward! I got off to a cracking start enjoyed dicing with Adam Jenkinson and Chris Walker. I was chasing Chris down and trying to have him, but he kept his pace and I didn't quite get there. But it's great to add those 25 points to my total.

"In the second race I had what was probably my worst start ever - Gary Johnson got away and got a lead of a few seconds. I put in three or four very quick laps and caught then passed him. Around then I started to feel a really bad vibration, and thought it may have been a puncture, but the tyre pressure didn't seem to go down. I wondered if it was a wheel weight gone missing - it was getting worse and worse as the race went on, but thankfully the red flag came out and the race was over - and I had my second win of the day.

"It was nice to have a bit of good luck for a change - especially after the puncture and being knocked off at Brands Hatch - and it's great to walk away with a near 50-point lead. The championship is well within our reach now."

Team Manager Bernie Toleman said: "It's been another fantastic weekend. Richard Cooper has rejoined the team after having his arms unraveled by a Belgian surgeon. We knew he could deliver but we didn't put any pressure on him to deliver... but to say he's delivered is an understatement really! Pole position to win - it doesn't really get any better than that. Tristan Palmer, our second Superstock rider, was on a bike that's only eight days old. There are a few things to work out with it, but he qualified on the front row and came home in fifth - good show.

Steve Brogan on our EVO bike once again won both races in his class. The dedication of the team and the hours they put in seem to know no limits. It's been an incredible weekend - if you could bottle an experience to enjoy again and again, this would be the one to keep!"

Metzeler National Superstock 1000 race results

1 - Richard Cooper (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)
2 - Jon Kirkham (Clarks BMW)
3 - Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda)
4 - Jimmy Storrar (BMW Jimmy Storrar Racing)
5 - Tristan Palmer (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)

Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO race one results

1 - Steve Brogan (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)
2 - Gary Johnson (AIM Suzuki)
3 - Pauli Pekkanen (777RR Motorsport Suzuki)
4 - David Johnson (Becsport Suzuki)
5 - Craig Fitzpatrick (Close Print Honda)

Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO race two results

1 - Steve Brogan (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)
2 - Gary Johnson (AIM Suzuki)
3 - Pauli Pekkanen (777RR Motorsport Suzuki)
4 - David Johnson (Becsport Suzuki)
5 - Aaron Zanotti (Red Viper Spike Suzuki)



Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship standings

178 - Jon Kirkham (Clarks BMW)
113 - Tristan Palmer (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)
110 - Howard Mainwaring (MSS Colchester Kawasaki)
108 -Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda)
85 - Luke Quigley (BMW Formwise-Astro Racing)
74 - Steve Plater (HM Plant Honda)
61 - Richard Cooper (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)

Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO championship standings

320 - Steve Brogan (Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad)
272 - Hudson Kennaugh (Spitlaith Motorsport Aprilia)
258 - Gary Johnson (AIM Suzuki)
215 - Aaron Zanotti (Red Viper Spike Suzuki)
213 - Pauli Pekkanen (777RR Motorsport Suzuki)

Germany - Nürburgring.
Preview.



3rd  - 5th September 2010
11th  of 13 World Championship race weekends


Munich/Stephanskirchen, 30th  August 2010. With the summer break now over, the race
weekend at the Nürburgring in Germany sees the teams in the FIM Superbike World
Championship entering the finishing straight of the 2010 season. For Team BMW
Motorrad Motorsport the 11th race weekend of the season at the historic circuit in the
Eifel mountains will be special for two reasons. It is the home event for the German team
in this year's championship, and on Sunday all involved will celebrate a new milestone:
Race 2 at the Nürburgring will be the team's 50th since its arrival on the World
Championship scene in 2009.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Berthold Hauser and his team will be looking to build
on their latest success on home soil. The Nürburgring has been a fine hunting ground
over the years for Troy Corser (AUS), who already has his name inscribed on the winners'
list here. Ruben Xaus (ESP), meanwhile, will be aiming to put the knowledge gained over
the past few races into practice and has his sights set on his first podium finish with the
BMW S 1000 RR. Troy is lying in 10th  place in the riders' standings with 155 points, while
Ruben's 69 points put him in 14th. In the manufacturers' table BMW has collected 174
points, good enough for sixth place.

The break between races saw Ruben give the BMW S 1000 RR a run-out with a
difference as part of the City Racing Day in Rotterdam, Holland on 22nd August. The
Catalan rider treated the large crowds attending the headline day of the weekend event
to a captivating display of burn-outs and demo starts.


Troy Corser:
"I really like the Nürburgring. In the past I've regularly had good results here, including
several podium finishes and a race win. I think the circuit will suit the engine and chassis
of our bike. Our aim for Friday practice is to settle on a good set-up. If we can do that,
then anything is possible this weekend.

The Nürburgring is a great race track and the perfect venue for motorcycle racing. There
are plenty of overtaking opportunities and lots of rises and falls. This generally produces
really exciting and spectacular racing - both for us as riders and for the spectators. The
Nordschleife is steeped in motor sport history, but with our bikes it would be far too
dangerous to compete on the old circuit at race speed. In summer 2009 I had the chance
to drive a BMW Formula One car at the Nürburgring, which was a lot of fun. I was
surprised by how quickly you can feel comfortable driving that kind of car. But I think I
prefer being at the limit on my bike."