BMW MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT. - BMW Motorrad Ireland.

MEET THE BMW MOTORRAD
MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR.
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, BMW
MOTORRAD’S MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR
BERNHARD GROBMEIER REVEALS WHY
RACING IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUED DE-
VELOPMENT OF THE S 1000 RR AND HOW
PROUD HE IS OF THE WHOLE TEAM BEHIND
THE “RR” PROJECT…
What have been the major learning points for
you in your debut year as BMW Motorrad’s
Motorsport Director?
We are all learning together. We have two very different
riders who demand different things in order
to get the best performance on track, so we work
very hard to give them the tools they need to do the
job. We are also constantly striving to become more
competitive, but the problem is that everybody is attempting
to do the same thing, so it’s a real race
in terms of development and a matter of who can
develop the fastest and move to the front.
How proud is everyone at BMW of the
success of the RR in the marketplace?
Everyone at BMW is very proud of what we have
created. The RR was a step into an unknown area
for us – sports bikes – where the likes of Honda,
Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati have dominated for
the last 20 years. We wanted to build a bike that
you could instantly ride – regardless of your ability
– and feel comfortable doing so. This motorcycle
incorporates all the technological ingredients like
traction control and ABS to make you feel at ease
with the machine, despite the engine power, while
still appealing to advanced riders purely because of
its performance. In my opinion, BMW has created a
very special motorcycle.
What has been your measure of just how good
the RR series production actually is?
We assess the success of the RR on the basis of
both sales figures and track performance. In its first
year on sale the RR won 14 national championships,
which is a truly amazing feat. We also entered the
WSBK championship as it is the ultimate test for any
production motorcycle and it is important that RR
customers see their bike being tested and developed
on track. In terms of sales figures, we knew we
were stepping into a new segment and one which
has been decreasing in size over recent years, but
we still managed to become market leader in most
countries around the world.
Is there a more competitive racing series on
the planet than WSBK?
This series is undoubtedly tough. We stepped in
three years ago with a brand new machine and
team, to try to challenge manufacturers and teams
that have been in this paddock for the last 20 years.
We are definitely still playing catch-up and have
made good progress, but so has everybody else. We
need to continue working to improve the package
we have and develop our knowledge so we can be
out there winning races.
But you must be pleased at how quickly the
BMW teams have become competitive?
Everyone involved with this project has been working
very hard to try to develop and progress at a
good rate so we can challenge at the highest level,
but every other team is also raising its game, so it’s
not easy. We have found that our bike and riders
seem to adapt better to some tracks than others and
now we are looking at making the bike work regardless
of the track layout or rider preference. So yes,
we have done a good job, but we have big expectations
from this project, so I am pushing to ensure
we continue to work harder than ever until we reach
our goals.
Will future RR owners benefit from direct
improvements due to racing activities?
We work with all areas of the series development
team and always feed back detailed information. For
example, we often speak with project managers and
those responsible for the chassis, engine, electronics
and ignition, and relay our findings so the next
generation of products benefit from what we have
discovered. The racing environment naturally tests
all our components to extremes, so this information
gets funnelled back into the team. It is our job to ensure
that the RR evolves, and passing on information
is key to ensuring that happens.
An RR is a serious track tool. Would you
advise owners to consider training to get the
most from their machines?
The RR is designed to be very forgiving and safe,
but in order to enhance your own personal performance
I think advanced training can be beneficial. If
you go to a school and learn how to develop your
current level of riding ability, then you will unlock so
much more potential in yourself and the bike. Tuition
and practice will definitely make for a more satisfying
RR experience.
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