World Superbike team, BMW Motorrad Motorsports has released their first official studio images of this season’s 2012 S1000RR team livery.

As you can tell they’ve haven’t changed and kept the usual and classical BMW blue, white and red colours they debuted with back in 2009.

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The World Superbike championship kicks off at the end of the month and the BMW Motorrad factory team has decided to go for a pre-season Q&A with their new rider Marco Melandri and the Italian talks about his impressions on the BMW S 1000RR, the new single bike rule and his relationship with team mate Leon Haslam.

Melandri who joined BMW after Yamaha’s decision to withdraw its factory effort in the series, and also refused a ride with Aprilia.

Q: How long did it take you to feel comfortable within BMW Motorrad Motorsport?

“For sure, it takes some time to get to know each other, but from my side we have actually got off to a very good start. I find the atmosphere in the factory very positive, and everybody has tried to work even harder than before. And from my side it is the same, so I really liked it. We know it will be a big challenge, and we know we need to keep up with the other guys. But we will do that. I am very happy to be here.”

Q: What were your first impressions of the team?

“That it was very big! That was a bit unusual for me in the beginning. But now we are all working together, and trying to use the full potential of all the resources and people available to us.”

Continue reading: Q&A with BMW's Marco Melandri

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BMW Motorrad World Superbike team, with Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri spent two days at Valencia testing preparing for the start of the 2012 season after the long test ban, verifying the latest version of the BMW S 1000RR engine and updated electronics software package and new parts which will now allow them to fine tuning the chassis and electronics.

Despite the very cool air and track temperatures (15°c -18°C) the team completed a total of 950 kilometres of testing on the 2012 race version of the RR and both riders seemed positive about the outcome of the test.

“We got through everything that we needed to go through, so I am very positive. These two days were important. We have a lot of new things for this year and it was good to test before we go to Phillip Island. In addition, it was good to get a few laps under our belts and get up to speed again. We definitely made big steps and are much further ahead compared to last year. It really is a stronger package and we still have five more days to test in Australia to dial it all in.” said Leon Haslam.

Continue reading: BMW Motorrad Superbike team concludes two day test at Valencia

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You’ve seen the pic of Marco Melandri motocross training on the Husqvarna TC 250 and read why he believes that this type of training is essential for him, and now you get to see the Italian rider in action at the Pomposa circuit (located at San Giuseppe di Comacchio near Ferrara).

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Despite the recent off season injuries of MotoGP riders Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso, motocross and supermoto riding is still a basic part of training for professional motorcycle racers and this includes Superbike rider Marco Melandri who has also taken part in several motocross charity benefits, and as a kid used to race in minicross against David Philippaerts and now often trains together with Tony Cairoli.

Having switched to BMW Motorrad Superbike team for the season, Melandri is now training with a Husqvarna TC 250 (Husqvarna Motorcycles is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the BMW Group).

“I ride a lot, almost every week,” said Melandri. “I like riding with friends, mainly just to have fun. We find nice routes, enjoy the views and stop somewhere for lunch. I really enjoy riding the bike. I love it. It is perfect for me - it is easy to ride. I also like the fact that it does not have a kick-starter, but an electric start, as I am quite small.”

Many fans say that riding a MX bike is too dangerous for motorcycle racers and eventual injuries could jeopardize their seasons, however Melandri as well as others, say that it plays an important part in training “It is the best way to train my concentration “In the gym you can chat with other people or think about other things. On a bike, however, you have to remain focussed. While the test ban is in place during the winter, riding an off-road bike is the best opportunity to practice this.”

“Let the season begin, I am ready,” said the Italian, who can’t wait for the 2012 championship to begin. The season opener will be held in Phillip Island, Australia, on 26th February andMelandri and team mate Leon Haslam will be testing the BMW S1000RR the week before.

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In his debut season in World Superbikes Marco Melandri ended up being the runner-up, but unfortunately for him Yamaha decided to withdraw their 2012 Superbike effort and he was forced to find a new team.

Yamaha team mate Eugene Laverty found a home with the Aprilia factory team, but for a while it seemed that Melandri was firmly tipped to be fielded next to Max Biaggi, albeit in an external tea, to avoid any conflict with the Roman Emperor, but according to an interview in yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport, the deal didn’t go through because “Biaggi’s contract excludes an Italian rider as a team mate“.

Opting for BMW Motorrad Motorsports team for 2012, Melandri brought with him five members of his former Yamaha crew said, “We don’t want to teach the Germans how to make motorcycles, we only want to transfer our experience. We entered the pit garage on tiptoe, they’re curious to learn our work method, also adding “I saw enough during the first test with the S1000RR to realize that there will be a lot of difficulties. One of the priorities will be to keep up the team morale when things don’t go well. On a fast lap we’re still far away, but on a race distance I’m sure I can come up with more and I can’t wait to start.”

Despite having often dissed MotoGP, Melandri stated that even if he didn’t ask Yamaha he wouldn’t have minded a temporary return to the premier class, but only as a replacement rider for injured Jorge Lorenzo, “I would have liked to have filled in for Lorenzo in the last two races while he was injured. It would have been a nice parting gift something that Yamaha owed me.”

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BMW’s Superbike team just finished up a positive three day development test at Jerez on the 2012 version of the BMW S 1000 RR. Even if lap times weren’t released by team, the usual moles reporting that Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri were lapping above the’1’43″ on day 1 and in the low 1.42s on day 2.

The team worked on the chassis and the revised BMW electronics (reportedly they have finally switched to a Magneti Marelli package). Testing including various set-up solutions for the new engine specification (improved rideability and low end torque) and modified frame geometry of the 2012 bike as the aerodynamics have been optimised and modified according to the new 2012 production RR design.

“This test went really well,” said Haslam. “We made some good progress over these three days. We did a lot of development for next season and here we have been able to tick many boxes on our things-to-do-list. We also worked very productively regarding engine mapping and ride dynamic strategies. Overall, the team spirit is really high. We have a few new people in the garage and everyone is working together very well. Now we are looking forward to another three days in Portugal.”

No comment was made by Marco Melandri as he is still probably under contract with Yamaha till the end of the year as he tweeted “Last day in jerez been no easy but in the end we made step haed.thanks to all my boys!” also adding “Sorry but till 1st of january i can’t give u any comment on new bike”

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier said, “We were able to complete an extensive test programme and gather important data and information in all areas of the bike. We have seen that we are on the right track with our 2012 version of the RR. We have another three test days with a packed schedule ahead of us in Portimão next week. The knowledge gained in Spain and Portugal will form an important basis for the ‘homework’ that lies ahead in the coming weeks before the season starts at Phillip Island in February.”

The team is now heading to Portimao on Monday for another three-day test alongside Crescent Suzuki and Aprilia.

Photo source | marcomelandri@twitter.com

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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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The final race of the final round of the 2011 World Superbike season at Portimao was a sort of slap in the face towards Yamaha who announced in August that they would pulling out of the series, as the win went to Marco Melandri, who took his fourth victory of the season, while team mate Eugene Laverty was second.

Jonathan Rea again the holeshot with Eugene Laverty, Marco Melandri and Carlos Checa hot behind him. The Castrol Honda tried to put a distance between the rest of the field, but the Yamaha riders wouldn’t let him escape as the Irishman caught both Melandri and Rea on lap 2 and lead the race for almost its entirety, until Melandri with a lighter tank began to hunt him down and then passed him with four laps to go and ultimately would cruise to victory, while Laverty had his hands full with an aggressive Rea.

The Castrol Honda rider made a couple of hard moves, but Laverty fended him off with his own hard moves and kept him at bay to the finish line to take second and three tenths of second ahead, however Laverty’s efforts weren’t enough to keep his third place in the standings which returned to Max Biaggi, as the Italian took seventh under the chequered flag.

Continue reading: WSBK Portimao: Marco Melandri says good-bye to Yamaha Racing with a win in race 2

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BMW Motorrad Motorsport World Superbike team is going through still another team re-shuffling, Rainer Bäumel who took over after Davide Tardozzi was ousted at the end of 2010, is leaving the squad as head of racing operations at the end of season and has been appointed Project Manager on a new vehicle project at BMW.

The new team manager has yet to be announced, but it is almost certain that Yamaha’s Andrea Dosoli will be following newly signed Marco Melandri to the German squad.

Press release:

Change in personnel at BMW Motorrad Motorsport: Rainer Bäumel (45), Head of Race Operations, will leave the factory team at the end of the 2011 season, to take on the role of Project Manager on a new vehicle project at BMW Motorrad. The man from Landshut played a crucial role in the entry of BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the Superbike World Championship, and was involved in the sporting development of the team in various roles. Bäumel’s successor as Head of Race Operations will be announced at a later date.

Continue reading: BMW's Rainer Bäumel leaves WSBK - replacement not named

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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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This morning’s QP2 at Magny Cours was warm and sunny and it was Marco Melandri who grabbed the provisional pole in QP2 after struggling all of yesterday trying to learn the French track

The Italian, who is pondering over offers from Aprilia (they want him in team Pata) and BMW, grabbed the top of the charts with his last flying lap of 1.38.179 demoting the Effenbert Liberty Ducati duo Sylvain Guintoli (on his spare bike) and Jakub Smrz to 2nd and 3rd.

Ayrton Badovini impressed with his BMW Italia by taking fourth, outpacing the factory BMW team of Leon Haslam and Troy Corser who were fifth and sixth respectively. Noriyuki Haga came in seventh with Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes right on his tail.

Soon-to-be 2011 World Superbike champion Carlos Checa rounded out the top ten, unable to improve his lap times.

Not making the cut to this afternoon’s Superpole will be only two riders, Javier Fores and Roberto Rolfo as the grid is down to only eighteen riders with Max Biaggi and Chris Vermeulen still recovering from their injuries and Castrol Honda’s Ruben Xaus who has been forced out of this round after crashing out at 210km during yesterday’s FP1, the doctors deemed that the muscle damage to his neck was to severe for him to race.

Continue reading: Marco Melandri tops the charts in QP2 at Magny Cours

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