2015 BMW M Award: Marc Marquez wins the exclusive BMW M6 Convertible.

This year’s winner’s car is a high-performance car typical of BMW M. The BMW M6 Convertible is powered by a 560-hp M TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol engine (combined fuel consumption: 10.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 239 g/km). The BMW M6 Convertible accelerates from 0 to 100 in an impressive 4.3 seconds and boasts a top speed of (regulated) 250 km/h. Technology characteristics of BMW M, such as the double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, the M Carbon Ceramic Brakes, Dynamic Damper Control, and Active M Differential, guarantee sporty and perfect handling in any situation. The new BMW M6 Convertible for this year’s BMW M Award winner is also visually stunning. Highlights include the exclusive BMW Individual paint finish “Frozen Blue Metallic”, 20’’ M light alloy wheels double-spoke 343 M with mixed tyres, BMW Individual full fine-grain Merino leather in “Opal White”, as well as BMW Individual Piano finish Black interior trims. In addition, this year’s winner’s car features numerous BMW M Performance Parts.

Winning the BMW M Award for the third time, Marquez drew level with record holders Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner. The Spaniard is also the first rider to receive the BMW M Award three times in a row. In 2013, Marquez was the first rookie to win this special classification. He was crowned fastest qualifier in his debut season in the elite class. He repeated this success in 2014, and 2015 saw him pick up the most BMW M Award points in the qualifying sessions once again. Marquez started from pole position a total of eight times this season, and with 365 points he claimed the BMW M Award with a clear lead once again. The official presentation ceremony took place on Saturday at the final round of the MotoGP in Valencia, Spain. The BMW M6 Convertible was handed over to Marquez by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, and Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division.

“I am really happy to have won the BMW M Award for third time in a row,” said Marquez at the prize-giving ceremony in Valencia. “For us riders, this award is always something special. The BMW M6 is a great car and I like the acceleration and the handling. The fact that it is the BMW M6 Convertible makes this prize even more special. It is the first time that I won a convertible car and for me living in Spain, this is just perfect. I can’t wait to get in the car and drive it!”

“The BMW M Award is an important part of our long-standing and successful partnership with BMW M Division,” explained Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “It is fantastic that BMW M Division honours the achievements of our MotoGP riders in the qualifying sessions in this special way. The BMW M Award has been one of the highlights of every MotoGP season for 13 years now, and yet BMW M Division still manages to surpass itself every year. With the BMW M6 Convertible, we have yet another absolutely fascinating high-performance automobile to present to Marc Marquez. Congratulations to Marc - I have no doubt that he will also enjoy his award this year.”

“Marc Marquez already wrote history two years ago when he became the first rookie to win the BMW M Award. Now he is the first rider to be entered in the list of winners three times in a row. Many congratulations on this impressive achievement,” said Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. “The BMW M Award is an important pillar of our comprehensive involvement in MotoGP and when selecting the prize it is important to us to pick a real highlight each season. I feel that we have managed this once again with the BMW M6 Convertible. The fact that the BMW M Award is so coveted by the MotoGP riders, whose lives are characterised by technological innovation, high performance and continuously driving at the limit makes us proud. It proves that our products have exactly these attributes, which is what makes them so popular with the fastest motorcycle racers in the world. We hope Marc Marquez enjoys his BMW M6 Convertible and look forward to next season and the 2016 BMW M Award.”

The BMW M Award was presented for the 13th time in 2015. Just like the points system for the races, riders at each Grand Prix weekend are awarded points relative to their positions in qualifying. Pole position is rewarded with 25 points, second place on the grid earns 20 points and third place scores 16 points – right down to one point for 15th. The rider with the most points at the end of the season wins the BMW M Award. Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner are the current record holders, each with three BMW M Awards to their name – with Marquez being the only rider who has won three times in a row. His Spanish compatriot Jorge Lorenzo has earned the coveted title of top qualifier twice so far. Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden have both won the BMW M Award once.