The Buildbase BMW Motorrad team’s four riders made their track debut at Brands Hatch this weekend. Steve Brogan took a top-ten start for tomorrow’s Superstock 1000 race – putting him in a strong position to defend BMW Motorrad’s 2011 Superstock 1000 title. Strong early performances during Easter Sunday’s qualifying sessions were very promising, but encroaching wet weather prevented the team pushing for even better positions.
The team, a partnership between BMW Motorrad UK and Hawk Racing, is running four new 2012 BMW S 1000 RR race bikes: two in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship and two in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.
Steve Brogan, the 2010 BSB-EVO champion, stormed to the top of the timesheets during free practice before the wet weather set in. Brogan will start from seventh position for tomorrow, while fellow Superstock RR rider Howie Mainwaring will start in 11th place on the third row.
Barry Burrell, in his second season with the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team, fought through to the Q2 session and will start from the fifth row in 19th place for the first BSB race tomorrow. His new team mate, Dan Linfoot, qualified in 24th place and starts one row behind. Barry’s best qualifying time was just 0.5s off pole position, with Linfoot less than 0.8s behind the front runner.
Stuart Hicken, team principal, said: “It’s been a very good weekend so far. Before the track conditions turned wet, Steve Brogan was up in first place in the Superstock 1000 sessions and Barry Burrell was running as high as sixth place. We’ve seen great progress from all four riders this weekend, and I’m confident that things are going to get even better as we get to grips with the stunning new BMW S 1000 RR race bikes.”
