Over the last year Ducati’s second testing track has become Jerez and they too will be present at the Spanish circuit with test rider Franco Battaini who will continue development work on the GP12 1000cc with the help of 2011 World Superbike champion Carlos Checa. Even if the testing rules have been relaxed, it is doubtful whether Valentino Rossi will show up as he’ll be busy with this weekend’s Monza Rally show that kicks off on Friday.

Jerez will see an array of different bikes on track over the next three days, besides Ducati’s test team and BMWs Superbike team with Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri, there’ll also be a number of Moto2 teams including Aspar, Gresini, Marc VDS, Pons Racing and Tech3 and supposedly a pair of CRT teams will be present like By Queroseno Racing (BQR) with the FTR-Kawasaki bike with Yonny Hernandez at the helm and the Inmotec prototype bike with newly crowned CEV Stock Extreme champion Ivan Silva.

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World Superbike BMW Motorrad team will be at Jerez de la Frontera circuit for a three day test with the new 2012 BMW S1000RR (Moto2 teams will also be present).

For Leon Haslam it will be his second season with the BMW Motorrad team, while for new team mate Marco Melandri it will only be his second test on the machine following his debut in the World Superbike post season test Portimao last month, where he finished in 8th.

Melandri was the 2011 runner-up on Yamaha R1, is hyped about the test and tweeted “Off to jerez!! First real 2012 test.. Exited and nervous like first dinner with Manuela.. Happy to find my guys on track!”

BMW and other teams will carry out another test session at Portimao from November 28th to the 30th, the last one before the new WSBK testing ban goes into effect.

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A while ago we introduced the new BMW S1000RR with a full official photo gallery, but BMW Motorrad has also put out a promotional video for the second generation of its commercially successful superbike. The 2012 S1000RR features slight but significant improvements over its already brilliant predecessor: recalibrated electronics, smoother power delivery, revised geometry, slimmer tail section, new side panels, re-designed instrument cluster and the obvious new range of color schemes just to name a few. Beside, we just cannot wait to see this beauty in action in the 2012 World Superbike Championship.

The virtually untouched 999cc in-line four engine still produces a claimed 193 hp with 112Nm of maximum torque, but its four engine power maps (Rain, Sport, Race and Slick) have been modified in an effort to enhance response. Changes in the chassis include a revised frame with a slightly sharper rake angle and a 9.3 mm shorter wheelbase, larger air intake through new upper frame rails, larger shock piston and a new adjustable steering damper. BMW Motorrad also offers some interesting optional extras for the RR, most notably a HP titanium exhaust system, a HP race data logger and heated grips.

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Two years after its launch, BMW Motorrad presents a renewed version of the successful S1000RR. The new model claims to be more agile and accurate than its predecessor, with improved power delivery and more precise throttle response as BMW Motorrad focused its effort on correcting the slight faults of the first generation. The 193 hp engine comes virtually unchanged, with just a re-calibration of the electronics (most notably affecting BMW Motorrad Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control) to make it more ‘consistent’ at low and mid-range rpm. For the same reason, stainless-steel exhaust and airbox have been re-designed as well.

The chassis has been slightly revised in order to optimize steering behavior and suspension action. The steering head angle changed from 66.1 to 66.0 degrees and fork offset has been reduced to 29.5mm in an attempt to improve steering response and cornering, while the wheelbase has been shortened by 5mm as well. The revised front and rear suspension geometry offer a wider range of possible adjustment, which will come in especially handy during track-days. Also new is the mechanical steering damper that now has 10 different levels of adjustment.

As for the aesthetics, the 2012 BMW S1000RR comes with four new body colour-schemes: Racing Red and Alpine White, Bluefire, Sapphire black and the ultra-classic four-color BMW Motorsports scheme. The bodywork underwent just a few cosmetic changes apart from the tail, which is considerably bigger than the previous one. The new BMW S1000RR is not a brand new bike, but consists of many subtle changes that - combined together - contribute to make the new model better than its predecessor. As for racing success, we just need to wait and see.

View the full BMW S 1000 RR 2012 photo gallery

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Ahead of today’s World Superbike round at Magny Cours, BMW Motorrad Motorsport has announced that they’ve signed up Marco Melandri to their team for next 2012 championship season.

Melandri along with Eugene Laverty were shocked to find out that Yamaha would be pulling out their factory effort at the end of 2011 which left them scrambling for a new ride. The Italian received serious offers from Aprilia and BMW, but probably preferred taking up the better paying German offer (€ 800,000 has been rumored) over Aprilia who wanted to give him second rider status to avoid any conflict with long time rival Max Biaggi.

Melandri will be joining Leon Haslam (who re-confirmed for another season just last month) while Troy Corser is expected to retire at the end of the season.

“We are really looking forward to working with Leon and Marco,” said BMW Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier. “I am convinced we will have arguably the strongest rider’s line up in the Superbike World Championship field. We are delighted to have two riders who are both hungry and experienced for the coming season. That is the next important step for our team.”

“Marco has performed brilliantly this season, even during difficult periods. He impressed us in his first season in the championship, and we are pleased to be able to welcome him into our team.”

Melandri made his World Superbike debut with Yamaha this season and immediately showed his talent on a production bike by taking wins at Donington Park, Brno and Motorland Aragon and he’s expected to take second overall in the championship standings.

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Leon Haslam has decided to stay with World Superbikes BMW Motorrad Motorsport team for another season.

The British rider who currently lies fifth in 2011 standings has opted to stay with German manufacturer, despite some recent rumors that he was tired of fighting against the in-house electronics that the team is using (wanting to check out the differences between his and BMW Italia’s Ayrton Badovini bikes). BMW has dropped a bundle of money into their racing project, but the S1000RR still isn’t up to par as a title contender in it’s third year since their WSBK debut.

According to BMW their second rider will be announced at a later date, as it seems that team mate and veteran Troy Corser could be retiring at the end of this season, while Marco Melandri has been one of the few names bandied around to replace him.

Leon Haslam said: “I am really happy to continue the relationship with BMW Motorrad, and I have full faith in the project. I cannot wait for the next year to start and to fight for the World Championship again. Now I can fully focus on the final three rounds of the 2011 season. I am optimistic to finish the year on a high.”

“We’re delighted to be working with Leon again next season,” says BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier. “Leon has impressed us from day one. We value and share his ambition, passion and absolute will to win. I’m in no doubt that we’ll be able to achieve our goals together.”

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The new BMW E-Scooter Concept has been revealed at the BMW Innovation Day as the company takes its next urban motoring vehicle electric. The BMW Motorrad electric scooter has been designed as a commuter scooter and not just a city run-about. BMW has therefore been working on providing a more powerful scooter with improved range and recharge times. Another focus for the BMW E-Scooter Concept is also a comfortable ride for surburban commuting, rather than zippy electric agility for inner-city traffic negotiations.

The E-Scooter currently has a daily range of 100 km and a recharge time from flat to full of three hours. The recharge can be completed from a standard household socket, and this provides a possible option if owners want to recharge in office block carparks as no dedicated power station is required.

The scooter uses an innovative frame concept, removing the main frame and substituting it with the aluminium battery casing. Other components such as the rear frame and single swing arm are mounted on the casing as well. Other technical features include a motor mounted directly behind the battery casing which has no direct drive or planetary gearbox. The secondary drive uses a toothed belt and a roller chain transfers power to the rear wheel.

Continue reading: BMW E-Scooter Concept

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Troy Corser tangled with rookie Maxime Berger on the very first lap of race 2 during last Sunday’s round at Aragon and ended up with a broken ulna and radius in his the left forearm that required surgery.

On Monday evening at the Alxandra Hospital in Manchester, the Australian rider underwent surgery where two titanium plates and twelve screws, six per bone were inserted into his arm by Dr. Mike Hayton (the same surgeon who fixed Jonathan Rea broken wrist last week).

The BMW factory rider is now recovering and patiently waiting for his bones to heal, but has already been ruled out from the 8th World Superbike round that takes place at Brno July 10th.

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With five rounds already completed and still another eight to go in the 2011 World Superbike championship, the 2012 silly season is about to take off with the first rumor that regards the BMW Motorrad Motorsports team.

According to Italian website omnicorse.it (so take it with a grain a salt) the German factory team has already started to shop around for new riders as they are not completely satisfied with Leon Haslam’s technical input on development and Troy Corser, who still occasionally shows flashes of brilliance, despite the evident shortcomings of the BMW S1000 RR’s very complex electronics package that is F1 based and hard to set-up and the excessive tire wear.

So who is on BMW’s hypothetical shopping list as Corser’s contract is up at the end of the season? Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi. You can snicker now.

Continue reading: The mother of all 2012 WSBK silly season rumors

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Ah, the perks of being a Superbike racer, besides getting to ride and compete on the best bikes, you get to travel the world, you’ve got fans and you can eye the hot brolly girls and you even get top notch driving lessons on cars as Leon Haslam and Troy Corser did when the completed a personalised driver training session in Munich.

The two BMW riders switched from their Superbikes to a BMW 330i for the BMW Driving Experience with instructor Jörg Weidinger who began the “driving lesson” at the BMW Driver Training centre at Munich Airport by gaining an impression of what each of the top motorcyclists was capable of. He then selected appropriate exercises, which were tailored to the individual needs of Leon and Troy.

“You can tell that they are both used to pushing a vehicle to the limit. That was no problem for them,” Weidinger remarked. “They were not the only ones enjoying themselves out there – I was too. You can tell that they are hungry to learn. They asked questions and took advice on board in order to improve and get faster.”

Continue reading: Troy Corser and Leon Haslam get the BMW Driving Experience

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Less than a week after their Eastern Creek tests, the BMW Motorrad Motorsport Superbike team wrapped up still another two days of testing, but this time at the Phillip Island circuit.

This latest test session comes before another round of official tests scheduled for February 21-22 and the WSBK season opener that takes place just a week after.

The team is continuing to work on electronics and set-up but unfortunately Troy Corser only had one single on track after a heavy crash left him with some bruising and the team deciding he should skip the second day to rest.

Leon Haslam carried on his testing programme on the BMW S1000RR despite very hot weather conditions:

“We were still focusing on electronics and worked on a setup for this race track. This was important as in three weeks time we are going to have our first races of the season here. We have already found a good base to work on. I am happy; we made some good progress. My lap times were quite good for these hot conditions. Of course we still have some work to do before the season starts but I am happy with the progress we made so far. The bike improved a lot in the last month. I am now travelling to Brisbane with my wife and my trainer. We are going to spend two weeks training there before flying back to Phillip Island for the official test and the season opener. I am already looking forward to race again at last. We now don’t have long to wait until we will find out where everybody stands.”

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While the rest of the world especially in racing is cost cutting and down sizing, BMW Motorrad’s Superbike team is adding and shuffling it’s managers around like chess pieces, as they announced they would be doing, when they appointed Bernhard Gobmeier as BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director two months ago.

With the tempermental Davide Tardozzi out of the picture Rainer Bäumel, formerly the team’s Technical Director gets a promotion to the newly created post of Head of Race Operations, while Stephan Fischer becomes the new Head of Development for BMW Motorrad Motorsport, and Josef Hofmann is appointed Managing Director of the Stephanskirchen factory and all three will respond directly to Gobmaier.

“In filling these three key positions we are concluding the restructuring of the team management,” explains BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier. “The new formation is leaner and the division of labour more clearly delineated. Rainer Bäumel will now control trackside operations and take responsibility for the deployment of the race team, while Head of Development Stephan Fischer will be in charge of further development of the BMW S 1000 RR. This brings with it a much closer interlocking with colleagues in series production development than was previously the case. Josef Hofmann, as Managing Director of Alpha Racing, will head up the factory in Stephanskirchen and take care of logistics, personnel and finance.”

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