Return to the 'Ring

After its traditional summer break, the Superbike World Championship returns to action over the weekend of 3 to 5 September at the challenging Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

With 10 rounds of this series already complete, and just three remaining, BMW Motorrad Motorsport are looking forwards to their ‘home’ round with excitement and anticipation. After being forced to sit out this round last year because of a broken femur sustained at Brno, Ruben Xaus is relishing the opportunity of racing at the demanding 5.137 km circuit.

"I have a lot of confidence at the minute," said the determined Spaniard. "Since Brno I feel like we have made a huge step forward and if we have the grip I can definitely run close to the podium. As long as we find a good setting early on in the weekend I do think we can perform well. Obviously Nürburgring is a home round for BMW and it’s a track I like, so I hope we can show the home fans our true potential. To be competitive you need to focus a lot on braking and have a lot of power to cope with the run uphill. I am focused and I want to finish the year with a good feeling."

Team-mate Troy Corser will be hoping to improve upon his eighth and sixth place finishes achieved here in 2009. The 1999 Nürburgring WSBK race winner currently lies 10th in the points on 155, but with only 30 points separating 10th and fifth place in the rider standings, there is everything still left to play for – especially with 150 points still up for grabs.

 "I really like the Nürburgring as a track and I have always gone really well there, regardless of the bike I have been riding," said Corser. "It is a circuit that I really enjoy riding. We had a few issues in Silverstone but we are confident that we have the package to do well in Germany – the team’s home round. I think the engine and the chassis configurations that we have with the BMW will work really well in Germany and I am hopeful for some good results. If we find a good tyre earlier on in the weekend that works with the track and the bike, then we have a real chance to run at the front."

For Director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport Berthold Hauser, the challenge of the Nurburgring can’t come soon enough for the team members, who are all ready for the return to action this weekend:

"The whole team are extremely looking forward to the next race at the Nürburgring," said Hauser. "Silverstone was a weekend to forget for us but as a professional race team we have taken onboard the information and we are confident going into the next round. The team will not be affected by the poor performance at Silverstone as we all fully believe that we have the package to compete at the front, regardless of the track. Everyone is focused and ready for the weekend ahead. It will be a great occasion for everyone associated with BMW."