WSBK – Udo Mark interview: BMW’s new Superbike strategy – Used BMW

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Interview Udo Mark: BMW’s new Superbike strategy

WSBK - Udo Mark interview: BMW's new Superbike strategy - BMW Opportunities

By inviting a few journalists to try out its S1000RR racing cars, BMW wanted to shine the spotlight on its Superbike program. MNC spoke to Udo Mark, former German SBK champion and marketing director of the Motorsport department.

On the sidelines of one, Udo Mark, former German champion of SBK and marketing director of the Motorsport department, answered our questions on the evolution of the Superbike regulations, the sports program of BMW, the national championships, the future of the motorcycle….

Site: The BMW S1000RR races in many championships, very different in terms of regulations. In your opinion, what direction should FIM and Dorna take for World Superbike? That of South Africa with the Stock regulations, of Germany a little more typical Superbike or of Great Britain more efficient but more summary (no traction control, editor’s note!) ?
Udo Mark (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Marketing Director): Already, it must be recognized that the Superstock is a category that works very well on a global scale. Motorcycles close to production models work well. But in my opinion, the more you level up, the more you should be able to adapt the bike. If we consider very high level professional riders who use high performance Pirelli tires, then it is imperative to adapt the bike in terms of suspensions, brakes, to avoid any imbalance..

The idea is therefore to give the drivers and the teams a strategy, a clear and precise way of progressing. Let’s say for example that you are new to a Stock motorcycle, more or less the production one. The next step will be to engage in a national championship that allows you to use a Power Command or a BMW Motorrad power kit, which amounts to the same thing, the goal being to re-parameterize the engine with tools accessible to all and which do not cost almost nothing. Thanks to this, we can take into account the brand of tires, Michelin, Pirelli or others, and we adapt slightly. You can also work on the fork and the shock absorber, on the brake pads and discs. You can then go further, by launching yourself into an international championship (BSB, IDM, CEV or CIV). You can then replace the electronics, the fork and the brakes as a whole.

"We should give a goal to teams that do not necessarily have great means"

As far as the engine is concerned, it would be necessary to be able, from the national level, to fine-tune the upper engine (camshaft, pistons) but not to touch the lower engine. And in my opinion, we should stop there also in World Superbike. In the long term, this would allow riders and national teams to participate in a few World Superbike races, just like in the heyday. I myself have won the German championship twice and have been able to participate in a few World Superbike races. I was not a permanent one, but I took the start of four or six races a year with my motorcycle, slightly reworked. It didn’t develop the same power as the factory bikes, but that was part of the game! I could fight for the Top 10, I even finished 5th in Hockenheim, all without having to build a brand new bike. That should be the goal. We should start with the flagship countries and championships. We should give a goal to teams that do not necessarily have large means and to smaller manufacturers: with such and such top equipment, you can get started in WSBK. This is what we must strive for, all together.

MNC: You were talking about financial resources. Is the fact that BMW Italia only hires one driver due to money reasons? ?
U. M .: Only yes.

MNC: Another team had planned to run two pilots this year … but it never showed up (read our). What happened with this JR Racing team? A story of money, again !?
U. M .: Everything they told us, everything they told Dorna, everything they told the media was wrong! They never did anything more than talk…

MNC: For what purpose ?
U. M .: I do not know. Never in my whole life had I had such an experience. Never ! Troy (Corser, who was to be part of the management, Editor’s note) too, believed what Charley Robinson was telling him. He got screwed, like everyone else. Yet we sat down with them, we had agreed on dates to deliver the motorcycles, parts, engines, to carry out tests … Everything! I had prepared four machines, they were in the workshop, ready to go. He then had to make the payment, as agreed. But from that day on, we didn’t hear them anymore.

MNC: It sounds crazy !
U. M .: I don’t know what’s behind it, I haven’t the slightest idea. I’m so sorry for Troy. For us at BMW, the situation was clear, everything was prepared and organized … And then nothing. The blow was particularly hard for Troy because he believed in this project, he did everything to make it happen. He was in contact with a lot of people and was able to pass among some for a liar, which was absolutely not the case..

MNC: Do you think Troy will try his luck again or that this bad experience has turned him too much? ?
U. M .: I think he will try again. I’m pretty sure of it, because leading a team in World Superbike is one of his dreams. For our part, we have been very clear: the day he feels ready, we will be. Even if building a structure unfortunately becomes more and more difficult, we told him that he only had to pick up his phone, we will answer present.

MNC: Let’s go back to BMW’s commitment to World Superbike. Marco Melandri came close to winning the title in 2013 while his teammate Chaz Davies continued his apprenticeship in SBK. When you see Chazie’s results for his second year on the Ducati, don’t you regret that you ended your engagement earlier than expected? ?
U. M .: (Smile) … What I’ve learned from all my years of competition is that there’s no point in looking behind you. Today, our strategy is based on "customer competition". When I am at home, in my small living room, I allow myself to dream for an hour. Then I come back to reality. We have a mission, we take this direction … Of course, we all love to run and we all love to win. Everyone wants to be at the top of the podium, whether in World Superbike or MotoGP, or in the national championship whether they are famous or not. It’s part of our passion.

"In some countries, the national championship carries more weight than the WSBK"

But on the other hand, I have to say that I am very happy with the decision taken by BMW Motorrad, namely to take a step back to work hard on its foundations, to produce a broad and solid base of competition and to gradually climb the ranks, progress each year. You have to be constant and reliable. If I talk today to a kid who rides a minibike or pocketbike, I can tell him: "this is what BMW offers, you can get its parts and this support, next year you can aim for this, the following year that "… This is concrete and I know that this project will continue for at least a decade. It’s important to be able to count on this base of practitioners. After that we will see, in due time, if we can reach the top. I’m pretty confident, but we still have to work.

MNC: Other brands, like Kawasaki or Ducati, are making the quest for the world title a priority. In your opinion, it is more interesting to invest your efforts in the national championships, some of which have an international scope ?
U. M .: It is not easy to respond firmly. In some countries the national championship carries more weight than the WSBK, in others it does not. What I mean anyway is that the current generations of Superbikes achieve such performance that it is much harder to use them. Ten years ago, you could buy a motorcycle, modify it slightly mechanically, but you didn’t need any assistance to adjust the electronics..

MNC: It’s kind of your fault and that of the S1000RR ?!
U. M .: (Laughs) Yes, ah, we can’t go back in time … Of course, using the full potential of motorcycles has become more complex than a few years ago. It is therefore necessary for BMW – as for the other manufacturers – to help the pilots more, not only of high level, those of lower level as well. We can make them happy very easily. These amateur pilots ride or race for fun. They have a job, other occupations, and do not have time to go into all the details of motorcycle settings. So we give them a hand, if only by sending them a map adapted to their Dunlop tires for example. They contact us a little later: "ah that’s great, superb"…

It’s an example. We want to spread this all over the world, so that every S1000RR customer, whether they’re competing in a championship, big or small, or riding for fun, knows they can be helped. We want him to have a smile on his face, to be proud to be a member of the BMW Motorrad family, and to be able to drive. At the same time, we want to demonstrate at the top championships – BSB, IDM and WSBK – that our bike is a real racing machine, but with reasonable resources compared to the factory teams. This is our strategy. Our community will grow over the years and become stronger at its core. Then we can rise.

MNC: How many people are responsible for helping your pilots, amateurs as well as professionals ?
U. M .: I couldn’t tell you because we are putting our program in place. But it was clear that these requests could not be handled by a team of engineers based in Munich or elsewhere. We wish to disseminate our know-how by training key partners who will answer questions on a national or even regional level..

MNC: These people will depend on BMW France, BMW Italia, etc.. ?
U. M .: That’s it. We have already launched training courses in Russia, France, Germany, South Africa … Guides and user manuals have been developed. We are going to ensure that 99% of our knowledge is passed on to them. For the most specific questions, those of very high level, the pilots and their teams can contact us directly, quite simply..

MNC: A rider who obviously does not need advice in Brazil, it’s the French Matthieu Lussiana who will undoubtedly win his second consecutive Superbike title! What awaits him in 2016? Do you have plans with him ?
U. M .: It always depends entirely on the team. We support BMW Brazil and its team, we have also sent an engineer to establish the basic settings of the bike. We would be delighted to continue the adventure with the team. As far as Matthieu is concerned, to be completely frank, I think it would be hard to move up the category. The step to the World Superbike is too high. But where to go when you come from Brazil? He could come back to Europe, where the British Superbike could be a good choice. But I’m not sure he can fit a good team into it. We know the British Championship is very competitive and we have some very good teams registered there. We support him because he won his championship, he is one of the best drivers in our "BMW Motorard Race Trophy". We clearly want to keep it on a BMW. But in the end, it’s up to him and his team to decide.

"Today, the Supersport category is dead"

MNC: What is your opinion on the Supersport category this time? You haven’t launched an S600RR because the market has shrunk significantly…
U. M .: Hmmm. If you are looking for a sports car and you are offered a 600 cc at € 14,000 on the one hand, and a 1000 cc at € 18,000 on the other, what do you do? Most customers take the Superbike. Well, personally, I’m a Supersport fan. To have fun on the racetrack, a 600 is enough for most people. But that’s another story … Today, the Supersport category is dead. We thought about it a few years ago, but it’s forgotten. We don’t have a 600 project.

MNC: Are you not afraid that the Superbike category will disappear in its turn? In France in particular, sports sales have fallen dramatically for various reasons (road repression, average age of the rider, price, etc.) ?
U. M .: When you look at what has happened in the past, you realize that there has always been a leading motorcycle in the manufacturer lines. Several years ago, it was a 750. Today, it is a 1000. In my opinion, this type of motorcycle will always exist more or less. It is true that sales are declining, but they will go up. Not at the level of the R1200GS, of course. But it will always be essential for a brand to offer a road bike that illustrates its performance..

"A brand needs a (hypersport) model that everyone can buy"

Winning in MotoGP with prototypes is not enough, neither is winning in WSBK. To be genuine and honest with customers, a brand needs a model that anyone can buy, touted as the most powerful, the best performing. In the future, who knows if the displacement will go up to 1200 cc or go down to 800? But the category will remain. Mid-displacement models may come back in five years, when customers realize that a 1000cc 230hp looks good on paper but it’s not that easy to drive, and it’s funnier. to ride smaller motorcycles. Who knows ? We can then think about it again.

MNC: Site does not particularly follow automotive news, but it seems that BMW in this area tends to decrease the displacement of its engines, reduce the number of cylinders and use turbos…
U. M .: Too bad. But this is a very personal opinion !

"As long as we can respect the rules, we will get as much power as possible from our engines"

MNC: Don’t you think the bike will undergo the same mutation? Mores change, standards harden…
U. M .: I know that for years to come, the current range of BMW Motorrad will meet all standards in terms of pollutant and other emissions. Other brands manufacture less powerful 3-cylinders, which can be conceived on other segments. But on the sports side, as long as we can respect the rules, we will get as much power as possible from our engines..

MNC: Good news for thrill seekers !
U. M .: But who knows, after all. Maybe in a few years 800cc twin cylinders will be able to develop 200hp.

MNC: Maybe the motorcycles will be electric ?! In France, your C Evolution scooter sells almost as well as the C600Sport ?
U. M .: How? ‘Or’ What ?!

MNC: Partly because the C600Sport is not selling well, it should be noted. But it’s still remarkable, isn’t it? We see more and more of them in Paris. Electricity seems to be attractive, but BMW France recently taught us that the first purchasing factor is not ecological: customers buy this scooter because it accelerates hard !
U. M .: Really ?! It is true that it starts faster than thermal scooters, the maximum torque being available instantly..

"We can’t always keep going in the same direction, making such a noise"

MNC: Harley-Davidson has built a prototype electric motorcycle, Victory is also launching with the support of its parent company Polaris and raced in the last Tourist Trophy … BMW also plans to release an electric motorcycle ?
U. M .: (Smile) No comment … On the other hand, it is very clear that in motorsport, we have to be open. Part of our future depends on electricity, it is indisputable. None of us can predict what it will be like in 5, 8 or 10 years. Electricity offers opportunities and also has disadvantages, which we are studying. We fully understand that we cannot always continue in the same direction, making such a noise (a motorbike has just passed in the straight line of the Valence circuit, Editor’s note …). We love it, but it’s not possible everywhere, all the time. We see that on many circuits, we no longer allow certain exhausts. We are working on it. If one day an electric category was created in competition, then why not? The races will be completely different. Personally, I think we will also have to review the very principles of racing. Motorcycles offer us incredible possibilities. You have to be open-minded. Imagine events where you combine speed and efficiency. We could invest the cities: the goal would not be to go fast but to go far, not to pollute, etc. Why not ?

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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