WSBK – Guide WSBK 2013 – BMW: Italians at the helm – WSBK 2013: presentation of BMW teams

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Guide WSBK 2013 – BMW: Italians in charge

WSBK - Guide WSBK 2013 - BMW: Italians at the helm - WSBK 2013: presentation of BMW teams

In 2013, the two official S1000RRs were managed by the BMW Italia Goldbet team. Melandri returns to the assault on the world title and now teams up with Davies. Two other Italians will ride in private teams: Iannuzzo and Clementi.

WSBK 2013: presentation of the BMW teams

Second in the WSBK 2012 constructors’ championship, BMW was right to "Latinize" its troops: the joint arrivals of Marco Melandri, the team that took care of its official R1 in and the great conductor Andrea Dosoli quickly borne fruit…

On the podium in the opening round at Phillip Island, the famous n ° 33 was able to lead the S1000RR to its very first World Superbike victory in the memorable fifth round of the championship at Donington Park !

Unfortunately for the brand with the propeller, this "European" event was the image of its season in general: dotted with ups and downs, the second race at Donington having been marked by the double fall of Haslam and Melandri.

The peak of the season for BMW was reached in Moscow, when Melandri took control of the championship (a first – again – for a BMW driver). But the dream of joining Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Aprilia in the world Superbike charts only lasted a few days….

Returning home to the Nurburgring two weeks later, the Germans saw their dear Marco explode in full flight and the Aprilias retaliate with panache. The four draws of n ° 33 – in Germany and then in Portugal – finished burying any hope of coronation for the Italian driver as for the S1000RR.

Marco knows this all too well: what has been lacking since his coronation in the Grand Prix 250 – eleven years ago! – is constancy. The Ravenna Hedgehog knows how to crush the competition, but is too irregular from one race weekend to the next, too sensitive to pressure, too generous in his attacks…

"This year, I am primarily looking to improve my own performance", Melandri analyzed at the official launch of the BMW team."I don’t want to make the same mistakes as in 2012 and I want to be on the podium more regularly", continued" Signore 51% ": 26 podiums in 51 starts all the same !

Best rookie (beginner) of the year 2011, Marco Melandri – then on Yamaha – had climbed 15 times on the podium and four times on the highest step, ultimately taking second place in the championship behind Checa and in front of Biaggi! His six victories (and 11 podiums) in 2012 only gave him "only" third place in 2012. Is victory good, the podium is better? CQFD.

In 2013, the new BMW team – with! – will it manage to bring the serenity that the former MotoGP star still lacks? After Biaggi, could Melandri also hoist his name to the top of the premier category of series-derived motorcycles? Suspense…

The (semi) official BMW team will however retain a slight British accent this year, since the English driver Leon Haslam gives way to a Welshman: a brilliant member of the 2012 class, Chaz Davies is one of the newcomers who impose their style. piloting … and won last year !

The Supersport world champion (2011) has indeed beaten all his opponents – Melandri and Biaggi made it easier for him by falling! – during the second round of the 2012 Nurburgring event. It was also this weekend that the arrival of "Chazie" at BMW was made official..

The decision to leave "his" team, his mentor Giuliano Rovelli and the Aprilia RSV4 was probably not an easy one for the n ° 19. But "it’s a big step for me", insists Chaz a few hours before the opening of the 2013 championship,"because this is the first time that I ride in a factory team".

For the first time in his already busy career, Chaz Davies will be in direct contact with the developers of his motorcycle: German engineers based in Munich for the engine and electronics part of the S1000RR, Italian officials at BMW Motorrad Italia in Milan and the Feel Racing team near Bologna for everything else.

Ninth in the 2012 championship, the best rookie of last season logically expects to take a new step this year: "my goal is to finish in the Top 5 in the championship", he exposes in all modesty.

"I’m not going to say my goal is to win or anything like that: I have to be realistic"Says Chaz Davies who knows his strengths at least as well as his weaknesses..

"I never give up very easily, I am hardworking and I know how to concentrate … and I don’t like to lose much", lists the Welsh champion."Another tip too: I prefer races to practice or test, which may be why I’m always better at racing".

"I think I have always finished my races in a better place than the one I occupied on the grid", even realizes Chaz! It is therefore understandable why the new BMW recruit will seek this year to improve his performance in Superpole !

A third BMW will participate in the entire 2013 World Superbike Championship: that of the Grillini team. Driven last year by the Australian Mark Aitchison then by the Italian Norino Brignola, the S1000RR will be entrusted this year to another transalpine rider: Vittorio Iannuzzo, Superstock 1000 champion (in 2002) with Suzuki Alstare.

"Our sponsors have all confirmed their support for the team for the coming season when the situation is not easy for Italian companies.", recognized the team manager Andrea Grillini this winter."I am delighted to participate in the World Superbike with a young but experienced rider".

Unless there is a huge surprise – understand a fall or a mechanical problem – Iannuzzo should not overshadow his colleagues Melandri and Davies. "For us, a position qualifying for points in the standings will be an excellent result.", summarizes Vittorio, author of 93 starts in WSBK (17 times in points).

The same will be true for Ivan Clementi, the last to enter the 2013 Superbike World Championship. The Italian rider – yes, another one! – just celebrated its 38th birthday and is preparing to compete in its sixth WSBK season at the controls of an S1000RR prepared by the HTM Racing team.

After an international debut in the Grand Prix 250 – a few freelancing in 1998 and 1999, then an entire season in 2000 – he raced in the Mondial Supersport in 2001 on R6, then in the WSBK for five years on Kawasaki then Ducati.

Clementi collected 208 points in the "queen" Superbike category, and obtained an honorable 12th place in the 2004 general classification. Coming back down to SSP on Daytona in 2008 without much success, he played in 2010 an Italian Supersport season. His return to the "big leagues" may be difficult…

BMW teams

  • # 33
    WSBK: 51 starts, 26 podiums including 10 wins, 1 pole

  • # 19
    WSBK: 24 starts, 4 podiums including 1 victory

Team Grillini

  • # 31
    WSBK: 93 starts

Team HTM Racing

  • Ivan Clementi # 18
    WSBK: 116 starts

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