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The Milwaukee BMW team entered the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship as rookies. Only their rider Josh Brookes had competed in the World Superbike Championship before. Despite the learning curve, the team still found success challenging for top ten positions throughout the year. Milwaukee BMW Team Manager Mick Shanley caught up with WorldSBK.com to discuss how their year progressed and the new opportunities and challenges they face next season.

“It’s been a bit of a baptism of fire really, a tough year for everybody,” described Shanley. “There’s a lot of effort gone in and we thought we’d have a few better results than what we have had. It was our first year in the championship and I’m sure its something we can build on for a good strong future.”

The main challenge the team faced moving onto the World Championship stage was only having experience at a national championship level. The SMR run team were regulars in the BSB Championship and together with Brookes, they won the championship in 2015, affirming their aspirations to move into the international racing arena. But the changes were considerable, beginning first with a longer racing season.

“First thing for us really was to staff up and get our actual team in a situation where we could come and make it to World Championship level,” said Shanley. “Normally we’re getting ready to go racing in the UK at Easter time in April. As it was, we had to make the test and be packed and race in Australia in February. That whole logistical side was the real first initial big challenge. Then obviously as we came out and we get here at race meetings, BMW only had very limited data for what they’d done previously that was applicable to the package we have. So we’ve been arriving at a lot of new circuits both for the team and the riders and then having to build on a setting ready to be competitive on race day.”

Despite their hardships, the future looks bright for the British team. The 2016 Summer Break brought news that the team will switch to Aprilia next season, with full factory support. Shortly after, they announced that MotoGP™ rider and former WorldSBK contender Eugene Laverty would be returning to the paddock in Milwaukee livery, with the sole goal of winning. Shanley is enthusiastic about the team’s future and is positive of the team’s capabilities with Aprilia.

“We’re very excited you know, it’s a huge step for us now to get that level of support from Aprilia and also to sign riders like Eugene and Lorenzo [Savadori],” said Shanley. “Eugene is only coming to back to the Championship for one reason so we want to be there to deliver him the package that’s capable.”