Motorsport | Superbikes

Leon Haslam © Gallo Images

Haslam happy with BMW progress



BMW wrapped up testing in Jerez de la Frontera on Friday with riders and management both delighted with the progress that has been made ahead of the winter break.

Riders Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri focused on several areas of the bike's set-up with special attention paid to the chassis and the revised electronics. They also tested various set-up solutions for the new engine specification and modified frame geometry of the 2012 bike.

Commenting on the tests Haslam said on the WSBK web site: "This test went really well. We made some good progress over these three days. We did a lot of development for next season and we have been able to tick many boxes on our things-to-do-list. We worked very productively on engine mapping and ride dynamic strategies. Overall, the team spirit is really high. We have a few new people in the garage and everyone is working together very well."

The team will now travel to Portugal for a final three day's of testing before the winter break and team director Bernhard Gobmeier said the work done in Spain and Portugal would be invaluable in 2012.

"We have another three test days with a packed schedule ahead of us in Portimão next week," he said. "The knowledge gained in Spain and Portugal will form an important basis for the 'homework' that lies ahead in the coming weeks before the season starts at Phillip Island in February."

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