News

If the Acerbis Spanish Round wasn’t already a WorldSBK round to look forward to, then the “big changes” to come from BMW and Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will make it an unmissable weekend. The German manufacturer is hoping to be at the forefront of the WorldSBK category across the weekend, with Markus Reiterberger particularly eager to be in the thick of the action, with a test at Misano to refine and improve his feeling with the S 1000 RR.

Speaking to Speedweek, the reigning European FIM Superstock 1000 champion said: “This is winning at a very high level. We have a bike and a team that work very well but the times in World Superbike have become much faster. You expect more and more: I have to be able to ride my bike the way I need to. What hindered me before in the last years, we could also solve. It may be that my problems are related to my riding style. I try to adapt, but I cannot completely change my style."

"The most important thing is that I cannot copy Tom, he has a unique riding style. We have to find a solution so that I can be fast with the motorcycle. With me, we changed a lot, things were not going in the right direction in Imola, but in Jerez or Misano things can be different. Everyone comes together, everyone wants the best and we have to work together.”

With a test coming up at Misano where the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will be on track, big changes are expected from both the team and the riders. In the opening five rounds, they have made small improvements, leading to an overall surge towards the front of the field, with front rows achieved by both riders, whilst what looked like a certain podium in Race 1 at Imola for Tom Sykes was snatched cruelly with mechanical gremlins.

"Then we can make big changes. It's a matter of balance; for me the bike is overloaded in the front, it probably needs a big change, my bike is more rear-facing, because I always assume that the front wheel is overloaded and there's no load in the rear. That's what it feels like, I can only pass on the information, the team then has to see in the data recording where the load is really.”

On track with Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati, Ten Kate Racing Yamaha, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team, BARNI Racing Team, Marco Melandri and Jordi Torres, it will be a busy day of track action at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, whilst acting as a crucial warm-up to Jerez as well.

Watch everything from the Acerbis Spanish Round with the WorldSBK VideoPass!