Big news this year for BMW Motorrad has been the performances of Marco Melandri and Leon Haslam in the World Super Bike races, but the company has been even more successful in European race series in Germany and France. Paddock Talk has the latest.
The BMW teams were a cut above the rest in the IDM races at the Nürburgring, but there were also victories to celebrate in France Munich/Nürburg/Ledenon on June 18. Three wins and eight podium finishes: that was the overall result for the BMW teams supported directly by BMW Motorrad HP RaceSupport in the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) and the French Superbike Championship (FSBK).
The BMW S 1000 RR riders were particularly successful in the fiercely competitive IDM Superbike at the Nürburgring: not only did they occupy all three steps on the podium in both races, but also dominated the places just outside the top three.
The third round of the 2012 IDM season was held at the Nürburgring and the BMW teams were able to top their achievements from the opening races of the season. In race one, seven RRs finished in the top ten, taking the first five places. Race winner Michael Ranseder (AUT) of Team Technogym Racing Austria - Fritze Tuning was joined on the podium by the two riders from the Wilbers - BMW racing team, Gareth Jones (AUS) and Jörg Teuchert (GER).
Fourth and fifth place went to Erwan Nigon (FRA) of Team Van Zon - alpha Technik-BMW and Gisberth van Ginhoven (NED) of Team RAC Racing BMW respectively. Young RR rider Lucy Glöckner (GER), who is contesting her first full season in the IDM Superbike series with the Wilbers - BMW racing team, ended the race in an impressive eighth place, ahead of Markus Reiterberger (GER / Team alpha Racing). The young Bavarian usually lines up on his RR in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup within the framework of the FIM Superbike World Championship.
The result was similar in race two: Ranseder won again, with Troy Herfoss (AUS) of Team RAC Racing BMW and his compatriot Jones joining the Austrian rider on the podium. The top four was completed by another RR rider in the form of Nigon. Teuchert crossed the line in sixth, while Glöckner finished tenth to claim another top-ten result. Guest starter Reiterberger ended the second race in eleventh.
Thanks to his two wins, Ranseder has moved into the lead in the riders' championship in the IDM Superbike series (106 points). He is followed by more BMW riders in places two to four: Teuchert (98), Nigon (92) and Jones (91). In the manufacturers' championship, leader BMW is racing away from the opposition. With 245 points to its name, the Munich-based manufacturer has already opened up a 149-point gap over Yamaha and Suzuki (both 96).
BMW also celebrated victory at the fourth round of the French Superbike Championship in Ledenon (FRA). Just one week after the triumph at the World Endurance Championship in Doha (QAT), Sébastien Gimbert (FRA) and Team BMW Motorrad France won the first race of the weekend in Ledenon. Gimbert finished third in race two. Victory went to Julien da Costa (FRA / Kawasaki), who now leads the overall rankings with 195 points, ahead of Gimbert (143).
"Two triple podium finishes in the IDM Superbike and the BMW S 1000 RR dominating this hard-fought class - you cannot ask for more," said Berthold Hauser, Head of BMW Motorrad HP RaceSupport. "We reacted to the amendments to the regulations, which came into force at the start of the IDM season, with a modified and optimised camshaft kit, which we were able to use for the first time last weekend. This magnificent result is the result of that increased performance. Like the teams, we are absolutely delighted." —Paul Duchene
