BMW Motorrad Motorsport - WSBK - Brno - Preview
Czech Republic – Brno.
Preview.
08 – 10 July 2011
08 of 13 race weekends
Munich/Stephanskirchen, 5th July 2011. The FIM Superbike World Championship once again stops at a historic venue this weekend. The eighth round of the 2011 season will be held from 8th to 10th July at the “Automotodrom Brno” in Brno, Czech Republic.
This time, however, the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team will only be at half strength, with only works rider Leon Haslam (GBR) able to race. Injury means his team-mate Troy Corser (AUS), whose three victories in Brno make him – along with Max Biaggi (ITA) - the most successful Superbike World Championship rider at this racetrack, must take a break this weekend. The Australian broke the ulna and radius in his lower left arm in an accident two weeks ago at Motorland Aragón (ESP). Troy’s recovery is making good progress, following an operation to set the clean breaks with two titanium plates and twelve screws. The team and he came to the joint decision that he would not return to action in Brno, as health and safety must take priority. Troy will most probably make his comeback at the next race weekend in Silverstone (GBR) at the end of July.
Leon is currently testing with the team in Mugello (ITA) in preparation for the coming race weekend and rest of the season. BMW Motorrad Motorsport test and development rider Steve Martin (AUS) is also in action there.
Last weekend, Leon and his BMW S 1000 RR were at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester (GBR), where he took part in the renowned hillclimb with other big names, including the legendary John Surtees. Troy visited the BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER).
After seven of thirteen race weekends, Leon currently lies sixth in the riders’ championship on 120 points, with Troy in fifteenth place on 55 points. Together, the pair has already picked up 175 points for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team. In the constructors’ championship, towards which only the best result from each race counts, BMW lies in fourth place on 153 points.
Leon Haslam:
“We have not done a lot of testing between the last few races because they were all back-to-back. From Monza we went to the USA, to Misano and Aragón. When we left Monza we thought we would have the chance to win a race in the coming weeks. But the races were pretty tough and we struggled. It was quite difficult. So it is good to be able to get back into the swing of things with a test and set a few things straight for Brno.
It is a circuit I am looking forward to go to, because Ruben and Troy had good results there in the past. I am looking forward to riding there with the BMW because it might suit the characteristics of our bike.”
Troy Corser:
“The BMW Motorrad Days at Garmisch-Partenkirchen were good fun. Everybody was quite relaxed, having a good day. I was pretty busy signing autographs and giving interviews.
My arm is recovering well. The operation went very, very well with no complications at all. Now we need to give the bone time to strengthen underneath the plate. The doctors said that I should nearly be back to full strength in time for Silverstone. Unfortunately, however, Brno has come too soon. I will probably end up coming to Brno just to be there, but not to ride. For Silverstone, however, I will be 100 percent ready.”
Bernhard Gobmeier, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
"After having experienced some difficult race weekends we want to turn over a new leaf again at Brno. It was good to have a little break after our journey overseas to the US and the back-to-back-races at Misano and Aragón. It gave the team time to catch its breath. Unfortunately Troy will not be with us at Brno, but our priority is that his fractures heal completely and he gets back to full fitness. We are in close contact and are happy that his recovery is progressing quickly. He will most probably be with us again at the Silverstone race weekend at the end of this month. We took the decision that nobody would ride Troy’s bike in Brno.
We used the break to improve the areas, in which we recently had some issues. At the moment we are also testing in Mugello before travelling to the Czech Republic. The circuit in Brno should suit our BMW S 1000 RR as its layout demands a lot of engine power. We are going to Brno with a lot of confidence.”
Background:
With over 400,000 residents, Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic. The city is located on the south-east edge of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, 256 kilometres from the capital Prague and 155 kilometres from Vienna (AUT). Brno is one of the most important university cities in the Czech Republic, a research centre, seat of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court, and exhibition centre.
The “Automotodrom Brno” is a racetrack with a long tradition. The history of the circuit, which is known in the Czech Republic also as the “Masaryk-Ring”, goes back to 1930 when the first race was held on a 29-kilometre track made up of public roads. After the Second World War, the circuit was reduced to 17.8 kilometres. The first car race to be held on the new layout was the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1949. In the 1950s, however, the circuit primarily hosted motorcycle races. In 1965 the circuit underwent further modifications and was reduced to 13.9 kilometres. Between 1965 and 1982 the World Motorcycle Championship was held in Brno until the circuit, which by then was just 10.9 kilometres long, was judged to no longer meet the safety standards required. The curtain eventually came down on the old “Automotodrom” in 1986. The new “Automotodrom” was opened in 1987 – about ten kilometres from the old circuit.
The FIM Superbike World Championship first visited the 5.403-kilometre circuit in 1993. Brno has been a permanent fixture on the World Championship calendar since 2005. Brno is a technically demanding circuit with a unique character. The track undulates through expansive corners. As a result, the circuit requires a flowing riding style and only a few hard braking manoeuvres. However, the engineers are faced with an interesting challenge: because the riders are braking into a downhill corner one minute and an uphill bend the next, the set-up must be spot on in order to give the riders security. Most riders like Brno, as they have to handle the corners delicately. The bike must have a well-balanced set-up.
Along with Max Biaggi (ITA), BMW Motorrad works rider Troy Corser (AUS) is the FIM Superbike World Championship rider with the most victories in Brno to his name. The Australian has already won there on three occasions. However, injury means he will be unable to race there this year.