The BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team concluded its first private test at the Portimao circuit, debuting a S 1000RR with a hybrid configuration, including some 2012 parts. Ayrton Badovini was immediately fast setting a best lap of 1’42.5 (on Friday with qualifying tires), while Michel Fabrizio spent even more time learning the bike than chasing fast laps (1.43.3 on qualifyiers) following his first post race test always at the Portuguese circuit.

The privateer team had a precise testing schedule: Monday was devoted to testing new components, especially in terms of reliability, and while not making changes to the bike verifying that everything worked. On day two the team worked on various set-ups and balance. Extremes were also tested to gain an understanding of response from the bike to the changes. Finally, on the third day, efforts were focused on new electronics management software which was ready just in time for the test.

“It was love at first sight! With the new bike, I immediately felt at ease. It’s easy to ride and I like it a lot” declared Badovini. “In these initial tests we have worked hard on the balance and we tried some new chassis set-ups and electronics options. The result was good because we have always been in touch with the front runners and this bodes well for next season in which we want to reap the fruits of the work done so far. The team worked very well, both back at the factory and here, and the results can be seen. ”

Continue reading: Ayrton Badovini on 2012 BMW Superbike: "It was love at first sight"

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Michel Fabrizio had to wait till after today’s World Superbike race 2 at Portimao to know that Carlos Checa would be staying with Althea Ducati, which left the door open for him to immediately sign up with the BMW Italia Superbike team.

Fabrizio will join Ayrton Badovini in the all-Italian team in the 2012 World Superbike Championship and will get the chance to ride the BMW S1000RR in the post season test on Tuesday October 18th as Alstare Suzuki team owner Francis Batta has already released him and will be fielding a new rider next season.

“We are delighted to have Michael in our team for 2012 which will show a significant performance jump, thanks to more planning than was possible for the 2011 season. He is a talented rider who has not yet had the results that he deserves. I am confident that the technical and personnel support will ensure that Michel can show his potential . With the appointment of Michael and the confirmation of Ayrton’s place, it will be a good all-Italian team of riders and engineers combined with the extraordinary BMW technology, ” said Andrea Buzzoni, Director of BMW Motorrad Italy and Project Director of BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team.

Michel Fabrizio:
“I am very pleased with the signing of this contract and I hope to repay the trust that the team has shown in me. I am happy to be working again with people that were part of my team for three years and that will provide a stabe environment that will help me do well. I am very motivated and ready to play my part next season because I know that the project is ambitious and the team is good. “

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Earlier this afternoon we posted the rumor that Javier ‘Xavi’ Fores would replace the retired James Toseland at BMW Italia for the three remaining rounds of the 2011 World Superbike Championship and now this rumor has now been confirmed.

Serafino Foti, BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team manager, declared: “Xavi is a young rider and has experience with both four-stroke machines and in international races. He has proved he can be quick and consistent, last year in CEV Superstock Extreme he won 6 out of the 7 races in the championship.

Due to the short time available before Imola next weekend his experience on a BMW S 1000 RR is important. As he has already raced with this bike Xavi knows some of its characteristics and it will probably be easier for him to adapt to our bike”.

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Spanish website motoworld.es is reporting that BMW Italia has asked former Aspar Moto2 rider ‘Xavi’ Fores to replace the James Toseland who was forced into retirement, for the final three rounds of the World Superbike championship.

The Italian Superbike team after letting MotoGP rider Toni Elias test their machine the Misano, has yet to announce who will be riding at the Imola round this weekend, but Fores would seem a good choice as he’s currently riding in the CEV Buckler Stock Extreme championship with a BMW S1000RR for Motorrad Competicion team after being axed by Aspar Martinez’ Moto2 team for the usual ‘lack of results’ reason.

Fores is no stranger to the world racing scene as he competed in the World Supersport and also in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup in 2009, where he finished 4th overall in the championship.

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Toni Elias still has no idea what he’ll be doing next year after a very dismal return to MotoGP, after winning the Moto2 championship in 2010. The Spaniard was invited by BMW Italia to take part in the World Superbike test at Misano, but it wasn’t exactly a stunning success, even if was the first time he rode a Superbike.

Elias ended up two seconds slower than his former Gresini team mate Marco Melandri who led the timesheets on both days and was even slower than Aprilia and BMW test riders and TV commentators, Alex Hofmann and Steve Martin.

The LCR Honda rider, who had to cut the test short because he had to return to Spain for the upcoming MotoGP round at Aragon, was interviewed by motosprint.it explained the problems he encountered on riding the BMW S1000RR.

“The tank is so big that I can’t reach the handlebars and levers with sufficient force and can’t control the bike. The first thing I’d need would be smaller gas tank and a different riding position: foot pegs, controls, handlebars.”

The BMW has a great engine but the power comes suddenly and isn’t easy to manage. The Superbike is more powerful than I imagined.”

According to Motosprint, it seems that BMW Italia after this test, is no longer interested in offering Elias a ride next season and that even Castrol Honda who was looking at the Spaniard to replace Ruben Xaus, has also changed their mind.

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Toni Elias has received an invitation from World Superbike team BMW Italia to test their S1000RR machine tomorrow and Wednesday at the Misano World circuit.

The reigning Moto2 champion who is enduring a tough return season in MotoGP with LCR Honda is highly expected to be axed at the end of the year (Andrea Dovizioso is relunctantly in talks to take his place), will now get a chance to see how he adapts to the 1000cc Superbike.

BMW Italia is currently looking for a rider to replace James Toseland who announced his retirement due to injury, however if Elias turns in some interesting lap times, theoretically he could get a wildcard chance at at Imola September 25th as MotoGP and Superbike schedules don’t clash that weekend.

Continue reading: Toni Elias to test BMW Superbike at Misano

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James Toseland will make another attempt to ride in the ninth round of the World Superbike championship at Silverstone at the end of this month.

The BMW Italia rider who has had his 2011 season disrupted by a serious hand injury picked up at Aragon during a private test last March, had to bow out of the last round at Brno after the first free practice due to the lingering problems to his wrist and was substituted by Lorenzo Lanzi.

However, the Englishman will be getting a chance to test his true fitness at the Mugello circuit, as his team has set up a day of riding at the track in conjunction with the CIV’s first free practice session.

Source | gpone.com

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It took 15 laps and a 18th spot in this morning’s WSBK free practice at Brno for James Toseland to realize that he isn’t fit enough to race in this weekend’s double header at the Czech circuit.

The BMW Italia rider is hoping to return to full fitness, after missing most of the season due to his wrist injury, for his home race at Silverstone, July 28th to 30th. “Had a run out this morning to get up to speed, unfortunately I have to sit out the rest of the weekend and get fully fit for Silverstone,” posted the Briton on his Facebook page.

Substitute rider Lorenzo Lanzi was already on standby in the event that Toseland couldn’t ride, and will take Toseland’s place in the BMW Italia team for the rest of the weekend.

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James Toseland has decided he’ll try to race in this weekend’s World Superbike round at Brno. The Briton has been been battling an extremely serious and career threatening wrist injury that he picked up during testing at Aragon last March.

BMW Motorrad Italia rider tried to return for the Monza round, but had to bow out due to the pain and then at Miller but was only able to ride in race 1 (taking 15th) before his wrist swelled up again and on doctors advice had to sit out both the Misano and Aragon rounds.

Toseland will try to ride on Friday’s free practice and provisional qualifying sessions, however if he should have any problems team manager Serafino Foti has replacement rider Lorenzo Lanzi on standby, just in case.

The former double World Superbike champion while recovering from his hand/wrist injury hasn’t being doing any real training, but was able to pen a deal with Joda Clothing to become their testimonial and last weekend rocked the crowds with his singing at the BMW Motorrad Days at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

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With James Toseland ruled out of the next two rounds of the World Superbike championship, BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team has called on former Superbike rider Lorenzo Lanzi to fill in for him.

Lanzi 29, debuted in World Superbikes in 2005 and has three victories to his name, twice in 2005 and a third in 2008, all on Ducati’s for various teams, his last podium was a second place in 2010 in race 1 at Imola, riding for the now defunct DFX Corse team.

The Italian was unable to find a team this season, so his debut on Toseland’s BMW S1000RR will give him a chance to be seen again and maybe a shot of finding a team to ride for next year.

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