BMW Italy Launches WSBK Team

The German manufacturers Italian arm competed in the 2010 World Superstock Championship with Badovini winning nine of ten races on the BMW S1000RR to capture the title. The Italian team is moving up to the WSBK class alongside the BMW factory team to put S1000RR superbikes on the grid with Badovini and Toseland joining factory riders Leon Haslam and Troy Corser.

Twenty ten was a particularly satisfying year for BMW Motorrad Italy, says Andrea Buzzoni, director of BMW Motorrad Italy. As well as victory in the Superstock 2010 FIM Cup, we also took the lead in the motorcycle sector of the Italian market. Now we have this new challenge with the full support of our parent company from Munich, and can also count on a team of experienced engineers and very strong riders.

The Italian team will receive factory backing with the same electronics package as the factory team though it wont receive the same engine updates as quickly as the factory machines.

While Badovini is coming off of a very successful 2010, Toselands year was a bit of a disappointment. The two-time WSBK Champion had high hopes going into last season racing for the factory Yamaha Sterilgarda team. Toseland started well, scoring four podium finishes in the first half of the season but only managed to finish seven of the last 14 races to drop to ninth in the final standings.

This year I'm finally feeling okay physically, says James Toseland, and am really motivated by having a competitive bike. Another real boost for me is the chance to work with a group of people who have already conquered the bike world.

Visit our gallery for more pictures of the BMW Motorrad Italia WSBK team.