BMW's new 7000sq metre WSB test facility
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SINCE BMW'S announcement last October that it would be entering the World
Superbike Championship in 2009 the German company has been busy readying
itself, both on an off track.
In just eight months it has transformed a plot of shrub land sixty
kilometers from Munich into a 7,000 square meter state of the art workshop
that will house the company's race project.
The facility already has two dynos in place, including a full dynamic dyno
that can simulate any racetrack and ambient conditions, with BMW keen to
keep all engine development and bike preparation work in the facility. The
technicians who will be working on the electronics, however, will remain in
Munich where they can get assistance from BMW's F1 team.
But having state-of-the-art workshops is one thing, the bike itself has to
keep pace with the development of the project as well. TWO caught up with
the team when it tested at the Eurospeedway Lausitz, the first time they
have tested at a circuit which has held a World Superbike Championship,
giving them the chance to compare lap times and performance:
Rainer Baeumel (Project Leader)
"Generally I was very happy with the tests, but I would've liked to have
gone just a second quicker. We worked in many different areas and all three
riders gave us a lot of valuable feedback, so I'm not complaining. We didn't
do much work with the electronics yet because we feel we have to start by
making sure we've a good bike before working on the electronics. The basics
have to be right, but we are heartened already because the bike has enough
horsepower and good torque. Our goal is to make sure that the horsepower is
usable power and the bike is good to ride, but all the signs are that we are
going in the right direction."
Jeremy McWilliams
"The base is good and the bike feels strong and what we need now is more and
more laps and more and more testing. But, I can tell you that the basics of
a Superbike are already in the pitbox right now."
So who will be riding the bike in WSB next year? Spanish nutter, and
all-round good guy, Ruben Xaus has been confirmed and the hot rumor is that
he will be joined by WSB stalwart, and former two-time champion, Troy
Corser. Obviously Corser wouldn't comment any further, but we caught up with
Xaus to see why he decided to leave Ducati:
"When I was first approached by BMW, I was interested in the project
straightaway. I could've stayed with Sterilgarda in 2009 but only if they
could get factory bikes but unfortunately they cannot do this. I want to be
on a factory bike and prove that I am a top racer and I think I have a good
chance with BMW. I have talked to the test riders and they have all told me
that the bike already has a very good base, has good potential and that is
an exciting prospect for me. I've met the team and seen how they are working
and I am confident that they will be a strong part of the championship next
year.
"It's a bit funny, but I feel it is my destiny to ride for BMW. My father
used to service and repair BMWs for a living and I used to help him in the
workshop, from twelve to sixteen years of age, so I have a personal history
with BMW."
