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NEWS
BMW to restructure WSBK campaign
BMW Motorrad has announced it will be handing over its factory World Superbike squad to BMW Motorrad Italia in 2013, but who will get the seats?BMW Motorrad has announced it will handing over responsibility for its factory Superbike World Championship squad to BMW Motorrad Italia in 2013. BMW Motorrad Italia will also be responsible for further development of the S 1000 RR's chassis, while BMW Motorrad in Munich will continue the development of the bike's powertrain and electronics.
The name of the new team, and its rider line-up, is yet to be announced.
According to Stephan Schaller, the recently appointed head of BMW Motorrad, the decision to restructure the marque's SWC activities represents a natural progression. "The new structure with the focus on one racing team is lean and efficient, and the concept is targeted and logical," he said. "We are looking forward to being in a position to develop the existing structures in Munich and Milan," he added.
The announcement has come as something of a surprise given the recent success BMW Motorrad has achieved with its main factory squad, the 2012 season seeing BMW claim its first SBK victories. At the time of writing, BMW Motorrad Motorsport's Marco Melandri was lying second in the title chase, with three race wins (and three second-place finishes) to his credit. Teammate Leon Haslam has also performed strongly, with five podium placings (but no wins) seeing him slot into sixth.
However, the restructure also throws up a further question, and one that BMW's Superbike racers in particular will be keen to answer. BMW's factory and satellite line-up currently comprises BMW Motorrad Motorsport's Melandri and Haslam but also BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet's Ayrton Badovini (pictured, in pit garage) and Michel Fabrizio (pictured, racing). If BMW Motorrad Italia is to field the sole BMW factory team for 2013, two of those four slots look set to go -- and so it's likely Badovini and Fabrizio aren't applauding BMW Motorrad's recent announcement...
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Written byBikesales Staff
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