BMW Motorrad Motorsport - WSBK - Salt Lake City - Races

Weather conditions: Overcast.

Temperature: Air: 20 – 26 °C, Track: 20 – 44 °C

Number of riders participating: 21 from 12 teams

Fastest lap Race 1: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:48.045 min

Fastest lap Race 2: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:48.148 min

Twice from 15 to fifth: Troy Corser (AUS) scored two more top five finishes for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport on Monday in Salt Lake City in the 2010 FIM Superbike World Championship. Team mate Ruben Xaus (ESP) finished tenth and 11th on the seventh race weekend in Utah. For the young team it was the second best result so far. In total, in 2010 the team has finished in the top five six times.

In the manufacturers’ standings Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport has now scored 130 points and is in sixth. In 2009 after seven races the team had only scored 60 points. Troy has scored 127 points in the rider’s championship and is seventh, while Ruben is in 14th with 53 points.

Race 1: Troy proved to be a great starter: Just before turn 1, he made it from 15th on the grid to fourth. He was passed by Leon Haslam (GBR) and Noriyuki Haga (JPN) on lap six. He finished the race fifth as Carlos Checa (ESP) had to retire. Ruben started well and was eighth after the first lap. He finished tenth.

Race 2: Again, a rocket start for Troy – he jumped from 15th to third. Ruben made up four positions at the start. Unfortunately neither rider was able to maintain this position, and finally finished fifth and 11th respectively.

Troy Corser:

Bike: BMW S 1000 RR

Result Race 1: 5th, Gap to 1st: 00:11.150 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:49.038 min

Result Race 2: 5th, Gap to 1st: 00:09.473 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:48.432 min

“Overall, we should be happy today. Nevertheless I was disappointed with the Superpole result as I had to start both races from the fourth row. In the first race I had to fight with chattering, and I had some trouble with the edge grip. We changed the rear spring and made a few adjustments. The bike definitely felt better, but the problem came back again when the tyre went away after a couple of laps. We now know what we have to improve.”

Ruben Xaus:

Bike: BMW S 1000 RR

Result Race 1: 10th, Gap to 1st: 00:16.502 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:49.309 min

Result Race 2: 11th, Gap to 1st: 00:26.823 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:49.132 min

“To be honest I am disappointed with today. I got great starts in both races and I was right with the top guys. I just couldn’t do the times over the race distance. The team and I have worked tirelessly all weekend and made some real steps forward, but today we just couldn’t make it happen in the races. Still the team did a great job and I must thank them for that, and also compliments to Troy because he did so well. I just wish I could have been up there with him. I hope we can join him at the front in Misano.”

Berthold Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director):

“It is good to go back to Europe with two more top five results. After Sunday’s Superpole result I was not expecting to do as well as we did today. I am really happy with the performance from both Troy and Ruben. Nevertheless, we had some problems today, especially with tyre wear. We have to learn from that, and we know that we still have some work to do. Last year at this circuit in particular we struggled – so to achieve what we did today is a real step forward. Congratulations to the entire team once again for what they have achieved with a lot of hard work. I feel sorry for Carlos Checa who did a great job today but was very unlucky.”