WSBK – WSBK: teams, drivers and challenges for the 2011 season – BMW: four S1000RR as strong as in Superstock

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WSBK: teams, drivers and challenges for the 2011 season

WSBK - WSBK: teams, drivers and challenges for the 2011 season - BMW: four S1000RR as strong as in Superstock

Once again this year, Site will follow the exploits, setbacks, fights and victories of the World Superbike for you. The 2011 season begins February 26 in Australia, but let’s take advantage of the official tests in Portimao to make the presentations !

BMW: four S1000RRs as strong as in Superstock

Unbeatable – or almost, because Maxime Berger won "his" race at Magny-Cours! – in Superstock 1000 in the hands of Ayrton Badovini, the S1000RR was equally so in the French Superbike championship where Erwan Nigon and Sebastien Gimbert shared twelve victories out of 14 races in 2010 (read in particular) !

In WSBK on the other hand, the 2010 harvest was not so rich … We note as the finest feats of arms in the world championship the two third places of Troy Corser in Monza then in Misano – on Italian soil, must point it out? -, as well as a pole position still in Misano.

Less efficient than the Aprilia released the same year – less efficient at the highest level, because for the common people the duel turns to the advantage of the German (read) – the BMW and its team must still progress before claim the WSBK world title.

Involved in the adventure from the start, Troy Corser is not about to give up and is embarking on a new season: the third at Behème and his 15th overall (read)! The 39-year-old Australian will therefore go in search of a 44th pole – he already holds the record in the category -, but above all a 34th victory that has eluded him for four years and his departure from Suzuki … ‘a third and last title, like his compatriot and namesake Troy Bayliss ?

Titled a second time at Alstare in 2005 – after his coronation on Ducati in 1996 – the famous n ° 11 was unable to defend his title the following year against Bayliss. He then spent two great years at Yamaha, during which he took the podium 22 times … but never climbed on the top step. !

This year – the last ?! -, the old crocodile Corser will therefore be keen to cross the finish line in the lead on the handlebars of a motorcycle that he saw born and made progress. And his new teammate could help him in that sense…

"Leon (Haslam, NDLR)and I say the exact same things about the bike and what we love about it: it’s very good !", remarked Troy during the end of year testing in Portimao."It’s always good when your teammate feels the same as you, so the team could take this into account and continue to improve", notes the BMW driver.

Leon Haslam, WSBK 2010 vice-world champion, therefore joined the official team of a particularly motivated manufacturer, which should change him from last year (read). His efforts in 2010 were therefore not totally in vain. !

Especially since he received the title of "pilot of the year" by the very serious Guild (association of English origin of journalists, authors, photographers and broadcasters which publishes each year the "Who’s Who" of the automobile and motorcycle industry and awards prizes, including that of best pilot). A reward that had received before him a certain Mike Hailwood, then Barry Sheene !

Party cooing on a honeymoon with Olivia in Borneo, the n ° 91 will be fresh and available to participate in the pre-season tests, not in Portugal like everyone else but in Australia, at Eastern Creek more precisely, before joining any the strip at the official trials at Phillip Island !

BMW is indeed presently present at the official FGsport tests in Portimao, but via a second team which is also very ambitious: that of the BMW Motorrad Italia subsidiary! The reasons – and the means – of such an ambition are simple: they are called James Toseland and Ayrton Badovini.

Admittedly, after two poor years in Moto GP, Toseland did not really convince last year when he returned to World Superbike. But in his thirties, we cannot take away his two world titles obtained in 2004 and 2007, nor his 61 podiums – including four last year, all the same! -, his 16 victories and his four pole positions.

By leaving the official Yamaha team for the "reserve" BMW team, the English rider is therefore looking for a second wind which will allow him to expand an already well-supplied track record. "James Toseland showed great motivation and enthusiasm for this project", guarantees Andrea Buzzoni, director of BMW Motorrad Italia and responsible for the Superbike project..

Ayrton Badovini for his part did not have to coax the big boss! Winner of the European Superstock 1000 Cup with the same team – nine wins out of ten races and a second place – the Italian, soon to be 25, was naturally promoted to the upper class..

It will be very interesting to follow the first races of n ° 86 in order to gauge the difference in level between the Superstock riders and machines and those of Superbike. Just as it will be exciting to watch the duel between Ayrton and his enemy n ° 121, our national Maxime Berger, who went from the Honda Ten Kate to the Ducati Supersonic this winter … yum !

BMW teams

BMW Motorrad Sport

  • Troy Corser # 11

  • Leon Haslam # 91

    BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team

  • James Toseland # 52

  • Ayrton Badovini # 86

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