Tests carried out by Marco Melandri (a new hire by BMW for the 2012 series) and Leon Haslam at Portimao earlier this week provided information about the 2012 BMW S1000RR superbike. Although we expect a more detailed announcement from BMW tomorrow, it has been revealed during the superbike tests that the 2012 bike will have a revised steering geometry, as well as new faring profile for improved aerodynamics. Engine changes are also apparently part of the package, providing improved midrange over the current model.
Basically, BMW has homologated changes to improve its superbike, presumably as both a race machine and as a street machine. We should have an official announcement from BMW tomorrow.
Who was quicker on the new bike? Melandri or Haslam?
Despite the BMW claiming the most power by a mile among the liter bikes in street form, it didn’t seem to result in WSB victories this year. Haslam and Badovini have had some success with the bike, but they certainly don’t dominate despite having the talent to do so with a bike that dominated in power. Checa, Biaggi, Melandri, and Laverty took ’em to school. I’m not sure minor changes will make much difference, though years of experience with the bike and chassis might.
Numbers help sell STREET bikes(wether u like it or not). BMW is a bussiness, bussiness are here to make a profit, im sure the rest u can piece it togheter.
Besides, they are the FreshMan of the WSBK…they have A LOT to learn.
On the flip side, so was Aprilia and then…(fill in the blank with persuasive argument).
I hope they fixed the transmission.
Badovini is by far the best BMW rider and is using different electronics mapping to the factory. Unless they find someone as good with the electronics as Max Neri, I don’t think they will do much better next year.
WOOOOOT !? BAAAM ! In your Face Japan, lol…what u gonna do now, AHh, AHh ? New Gixxer ? Man, i can’t wait for EICMA.