22.06.19
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team today claimed a remarkable first podium in only their seventh WorldSBK round with the new BMW S 1000 RR. After an impressive performance from Tom Sykes in Superpole taking his second front row start of 2019 the ‘Grinner’ Sykes, managed to convert his front row and go one better for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team as he brought it home in P2. The Pata Riviera Di Rimini Round however had drama from the outset with the heavens opening causing Race 1 to be red flagged not once, but twice!
Despite the red flag and delays the race finally got underway with Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes and Tom Sykes leading the pack in the dodgy conditions. Team mate Markus Reiterberger on the other-hand didn’t have luck on his side following a mistake at T8 on lap 3, relegating him to the back of the field in P17. Alex Lowes looked to take lead on lap 7 and did just that - however only to crash two laps later on lap 9 now promoting Tom Sykes into second place.
As the laps rolled by the anticipation and excitement began to rise in the pit-box but Sykes rode sensible for the last 10 laps gauging the gap behind him from his pit board. At the end of Race 1 Sykes claimed a brilliant P2 for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team with his team mate grabbing the final point in P15.
Following the delight from today’s race the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team now look ahead to tomorrow where Tom and Markus will battle it out in the 10 lap Sprint race and the feature Race 2.
Dr. Markus Schramm - Head of BMW Motorrad
“Congratulations to Tom Sykes and the entire BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. It is fantastic that our fledgling project has been able to celebrate the first WorldSBK podium for the new BMW S 1000 RR at only the seventh event of the season. This is confirmation of the commitment, passion and hard work that everyone in the team has put into the project since we started out in the winter. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone. Tom gave a fantastic, commanding performance in the rain. And the team gave him a bike, in the RR, that was capable of a podium finish. We can be very proud of what we have achieved today.”
Shaun Muir – Team Principal
“We are absolutely delighted for everyone at BMW, for everyone in Munich and in Guisborough at SMR. It’s been a real joint team effort and to have Dr. Markus Schramm, the Head of BMW Motorrad here to witness it is absolutely fantastic.
We took the gamble not go out with Tom in this morning FP3 session thinking it would be a dry afternoon, but the clouds opened up and it was wet all the way until the chequered flag came out. It was a very difficult, stressful period with the delayed start and the re-start but we had a full 18-lap race and Tom thoroughly enjoyed riding in the wet, and more than earned his P2 in the race.
The downside is that Markus really had a difficult race as he got caught within the very back of the pack, and with all the spray it resulted him to run off at turn eight. It was a tough day for Markus and he wants to put that behind him. But now we must celebrate the first podium for this new project and I think that is has come ahead of schedule and it’s certainly something that we should be proud of as the team. Hopefully we can build on this and keep the momentum going into tomorrow and into Donington Park.”
Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director
“We have achieved our first goal with the new BMW S 1000 RR in WorldSBK – we made it onto the podium. That is excellent, and the best possible reward for all the hard work the team has tirelessly put in. We set ourselves the goal of improving consistently towards the front of the field. With Tom’s second place today, we have taken the next step. The track conditions were far from easy today, but Tom and the team mastered this challenge superbly. We hope we can back up this success tomorrow. Markus had a difficult race, but tomorrow is a new day and we are confident that the tide will turn again for him.”
Tom Sykes (GBR)
“To say that I am very happy would be a slight understatement. I am very, very happy and it’s just credit to all the guys in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. We’ve been working really hard and finally we’ve got the result which I feel we deserve. We’ve been pushing forward and it’s absolutely fantastic. I really enjoyed riding in the wet conditions. The BMW S 1000 RR gave me some great feedback today and what a better place to do that than here at Misano in front of some amazing fans. So we will try and keep that momentum together and try to get the results tomorrow. Thanks to all!”
Markus Reiterberger (GER)
“Congratulations to Tom and the team on a superb result and the first podium for BMW. I was a little surprised that it rained this morning. However, I was happy about that, as I was quick in the rain during the test here. I gave it my all in Superpole, but it was only good enough for 12th on the grid. We just need to make a few more adjustments to the bike and my riding style. Unfortunately, the wet race was disappointing. I lost positions in the first part, as my starting position meant I had absolutely no visibility in the spray. I was then able to make up a few places in the second part of the race, but touched the white line during an overtaking manoeuvre, got my braking wrong and had to veer off into the gravel. After that, I just made sure I finished. Fortunately, I picked up a point.”
