Fresh on the team’s 1-2 victory at Moscow Raceway, BMW Motorrad has dropped a bomb on the World Superbike paddock, announcing that it would no long support a factory team in the production-based series — effective at the end of the 2013 season. In other words, Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies will be unemployed in a few months’ time.
Citing a “strategic realignment” of the company’s resources in motorsport, the move by BMW Motorrad is perhaps unsurprising, as zie Germans consolidated their WSBK efforts this year, with the factory supporting BMW Italia’s BMW Motorrad Goldbet SBK team, rather than fielding two efforts in the series.
BMW Motorrad says some of the resources currently in World Superbike will go towards other racing efforts, though didn’t name which series would benefit from the restructuring. BMW Motorrad did say though that the realignment is part of a larger plan within BMW to reposition the company’s brand and activities.
“BMW Motorrad Motorsport will end its involvement in the World Superbike Championship after this season,” said Stephan Schaller, General Director BMW Motorrad. “This is consistent with the strategic realignment of our brand.”
“BMW Motorrad will now focus on the further expansion of the very successful product portfolio over 500 cc, the expansion of product segments under 500 cc, e-mobility and the development of market potential in emerging economies like Brazil and Asia.”
“Only those who act consistently today are well prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. BMW Motorrad will remain involved in motorsport and in doing so we will focus on the international customer sport in all its facets. I want to thank everybody who has supported us on this long and successful journey.”
Source: BMW Motorrad; Photo: WorldSBK
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