BMW racers continue their winning streak in the IRRC – Podium finishes for BMW riders in both BSB classes.

Munich. Two races, two wins and a total of six podiums: the BMW S 1000 RR riders’ results in the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) at the third round held in Chimay (BEL) at the weekend. In the British Superbike Championship Superbike class (BSB SBK), Christian Iddon (GBR) had a successful comeback after his injury, racing to the podium at Brands Hatch (GBR). His fellow BMW riders Michael Rutter (GBR) and Chrissy Rouse (GBR) stepped onto the rostrum in the BSB Superstock class (BSB STK).

International Road Racing Championship in Chimay, Belgium.

The third round of the 2017 International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) was held at Chimay in Belgium at the weekend – and once again the BMW S 1000 RR riders dominated the action. In the two Superbike class races, both wins and all podium positions went to BMW racers.

Race one saw a fantastic battle between championship leader Sébastien Le Grelle (BEL / Herpigny Motors - BMW Motorrad Belux) and his team-mate, reigning champion Vincent Lonbois (BEL), who had returned to IRRC for this round with a wildcard. They pulled away from the rest of the field, fighting for the win. Shortly before the race had to be red flagged due to rain starting to fall, Lonbois overtook his team-mate and as a result secured victory. Le Grelle was second, and Marek Červený (CZE / Wepol Safemetal Racing) joined them on the podium in third. Didier Grams (GER / G&G Motorsport by Todoracing) was classified fifth.

For race two, the rain had stopped but the track was still wet. Le Grelle took the lead straight away and defended it to the finish line, celebrating his fourth win of the season and extending his championship lead. Lonbois was second that time out, while Grams secured the third spot on the podium. Červený was fifth, and Erno Kostamo (FIN / Markka Racing) completed the top six.

British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, Great Britain.

A weekend full of action awaited the British Superbike Championship (BSB) fans at Brands Hatch (GBR), where the sixth round of the 2017 season was held on the long Grand Prix Circuit. In the Superbike class (BSB SBK), Tyco BMW Motorrad rider Christian Iddon (GBR) made a strong comeback after missing races due to injury. He stepped onto the podium in race two, crossing the line in third. In race one, Iddon was eighth. Fellow BMW rider Peter Hickman (GBR / Smiths Racing) was fourth in both heats. In race one, he missed out on the podium by just a few hundredths of a second. Hickman was fighting in the leading pack when the race was red-flagged as light rain began to fall. In the championship standings, Hickman maintained his place in the crucial top six, being sixth. Iddon follows in seventh. After nine race weekends, the top six in the standings will enter the “showdown” for the BSB title.

Christian Iddon: “I’m more than happy after race two – first round back and we are back on the box and going home with a trophy.  It’s nice to be back racing after missing two rounds. It’s been difficult coming to watch and not racing. A big thanks to the Tyco BMW team and all my sponsors for putting up with me being agro for the last few weeks. Now it’s time to focus and look forward to Thruxton. I enjoy the circuit. I know we will have the pace there and it will be a case of working with the team to conserve tyres and hopefully be back on the podium.”

Peter Hickman: “I’ve felt really strong all weekend although I was gutted to have missed out on a podium in the first race. I really felt we deserved a top-three finish but the race ending prematurely put paid to that - although we did have the consolation of some solid points. My grid position for race two held me back a bit but I got stuck in from the start and put some good passes in, although I didn’t quite have the pace to catch Ellison and Iddon. I’m trying really hard to get up to fourth in the championship to give myself a bit of a buffer but I’ve strengthened my hold on sixth place. I’m really happy with the weekend, I’m really happy with the bike and delighted for the team so roll on Thruxton.”

In the Superstock class (BSB STK) three races were held at Brands Hatch: the two parts of race one on Saturday, which was another “endurance race” with a quick change of tyres and refuelling between the two parts, as well as the “normal” race two on Sunday. The RR riders claimed several podium positions. On Saturday, Michael Rutter (GBR / Bathams SMT Racing) finished the first part of the “endurance race” in second place. Adam Jenkinson (GBR / Northern Escalator Installations) was fourth and Chrissy Rouse (GBR / Mission Racing) fifth. In the second part, Rouse secured his spot on the podium finishing third, followed by Rutter in fourth. Josh Elliott (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) was sixth. In Sunday’s race, Rutter and Rouse celebrated on the podium together: Rutter was second and Rouse third. Elliott crossed the line in sixth.

SuperBike Series Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil.

The SuperBike Series Brasil (BRSBK) held its fourth race of the 2017 season in São Paulo (BRA) at the weekend. Danilo Lewis (BRA / Tecfil Havoline Racing Team) was the highest placed BMW rider, crossing the line in sixth. Davi Lara Costa (BRA / JC Racing Team) followed directly behind in seventh. Diego Viveiros (BRA / Tecfil Racing Team) also made it to the top-ten, finishing ninth.