Haslam happy with improved pace
Leon Haslam found the 2012 BMW Superbike to be more competitive at Portimão than it has been previously.
BMW has completed its last Superbike test programme of 2011 with three successful days in Portimão, Portugal this week.
The teams participating in the FIM Superbike World Championship are now not allowed to test between 1st December and 15th January 2012.
Over the next few weeks the squad will continue to prepare for the coming season at its bases in Munich and Stephanskirchen. The testing ban
meant it was once again vital for the team to gather extensive data at the final test of the year in Portugal. This data will now form the
basis for the work to be carried out over the coming weeks.
The team arrived in Portimão to find conditions very similar to those they experienced last week in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain: the
weather was mainly sunny and the mild temperatures were over 20 degrees C – ideal working conditions.
Leon Haslam (GBR) and Marco Melandri (ITA) were joined this time by BMW test and development rider Steve Martin (AUS). Melandri posted
the unofficial best time (1:42.4 minutes) at this test, which was held along with other teams.
The team had an extensive programme to get through in Portimão. It worked on set-up solutions for the new engine spec of the 2012
version of the BMW S 1000 RR. These will now be refined on the dynamic testing rig in Munich. Modifications and optimal changes were made to
the gearbox. In terms of the chassis, the team tested various components, including new swing arms and base set-ups. The electronics were
further optimised, and the team managed to further improve the handling of the bikes. New brake components were also tested successfully.
The team also worked on the aerodynamics, weight distribution and ergonomics.
“It was very good to come back to Portimão and set constantly quick lap times on this track, on which we were not so competitive last
season,” said Haslam. “This shows that we have taken a really good step forward, particularly in regard to the engine characteristic and
the electronics. We also found very good settings with the new chassis. The team will now use the coming two months to prepare everything
for Australia. If we continue in this direction, everything is looking good for Phillip Island. I will now return to England and have an
intensive fitness programme with my trainer lined up for December and January. And I am really excited about the birth of our first child
very soon.”
“We had ideal weather and test conditions at both the tests in Jerez and Portimão,” said BMW Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier.
"As such, we were able to get through a comprehensive workload with our riders. We tested most of the topics we had on our list. We
were able to further optimise all areas of the 2012 version of the RR and will now focus on fine-tuning over the coming weeks in Munich and
Stephanskirchen. In general, I can say that we look forward optimistically to go to Phillip Island in February. I am also pretty happy with
our newly assembled race team. The cooperation is working excellently, both from a technical and human point of view. It is a very
harmonious and creative working environment. The entire team has gelled together brilliantly within a very short space of time.”
Before the official start of the FIM Superbike World Championship season on 26th February 2012 at Phillip Island in Australia, BMW will
conduct two more tests at this venue: from 13th to 15th February and again on 20th and 21st February.
-BMW-