BMW Motorrad Motorsport in action in Thailand and South Africa.

Munich, 24th March 2015. The 2015 season is gaining momentum: last weekend, BMW Motorrad Motorsport was in action in Thailand and South Africa. The FIM Superbike World Championship (WSBK) was making its debut in Thailand at the “Chang International Circuit” in Buriram. Meanwhile, the “Phakisa International Raceway” in Welkom (ZA) hosted the opening round of the 2015 season in the South African motorcycle championship, the Super-GP Champions Trophy (SAM), which yielded three podiums for the new BMW S 1000 RR. This weekend sees the start of this year’s French Superbike Championship (FSBK) in Le Mans (FR). With the season starting, interest is high for the 2015 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy: the first 25 participants have already registered for the second year of this special competition.

FIM Superbike World Championship in Buriram.

Four weeks after the season-opener in Phillip Island (AU), last weekend’s second round of the 2015 FIM Superbike World Championship (WSBK) witnessed a first for the series: the Superbike World Championship visited Thailand for the first time. The venue for the first WSBK race in Thailand was the “Chang International Circuit” in Buriram, in the northeast of the country. Four BMW S 1000 RRs competed, under the supervision of the experts from BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The new and unfamiliar circuit was not the only challenge facing the teams and riders. The weather, with humid heat and tropical showers, also made life far from easy for those taking part.

Sylvain Barrier (FR) of the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK team added to his points tally in both races on his BMW S 1000 RR. He finished 14th in race one and 13th in the second race. Imre Toth (HU) of BMW Racing Team Toth claimed two 18th places. His team-mate Gabor Rizmayer (HU) is still out of action, having broken his wrist at the opening round in Phillip Island. He was replaced in Thailand by Ireneusz Sikora (PL), who came home 19th in both races. The fourth BMW rider in the field was local favourite Chanon Chumjai of Thailand, who raced as a wildcard rider on the RR fielded by the RAC Oil Racing Team. He failed to finish the opening race, before crossing the line 20th in race two.

The European leg of the Superbike World Championship kicks off with the third round of the season at Motorland Aragón (12th April), Spain, in three weeks. The 2015 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup (WSTK) also races there.

South African SuperGP Champions Trophy in Welkom.

The race is on for the title in the South African motorcycle championship, the Super-GP Champions Trophy (SAM): the “Phakisa International Raceway” in Welkom (ZA) hosted the season-opener last weekend. The experts at BMW Motorrad Motorsport were also on site in South Africa to help their customers to prepare the new BMW S 1000 RR for the races. And with great success – three podiums for the RR in the highest class, the Super-GP category, to start the season.

In the first of the two races, second and third places went to BMW riders. Nicholas Kershaw (ZA) was runner-up on his Tsunami Beach Bar BMW S 1000 RR. Lance Isaacs (ZA / Black Swan Racing Team), who was one of the top placed riders in the 2014 BMW Motorad Race Trophy, finished race one in third place, just shy of Kershaw. In race two, Isaacs finished second on his RR to claim another podium, while Kershaw came home fourth.

2015 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy.

In most of the national and international championships, the 2015 racing season is only about to start. However, the interest in the 2015 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy is already high. So far, no less than 25 privateer BMW Motorrad riders from seven different championships have registered for the second running of this special competition – with many more to come over the next weeks and months. Registration is open until 30th June 2015.

Please find more information about the 2015 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy, including regulations and registration forms online at the BMW Motorrad Motorsport website:

www.bmw-motorrad-motorsport.com