Andrew Pitt is a rider who knows how to win at the highest level of Superbike racing, and although his technical package in the BMW Reitwagen team is not even close to completion at this early stage of the year, he was full of praise for his bike and team after scoring points in each race in Australia.
“The team have worked so hard with the material we’ve got and I wanted to finish both races at the very least. To get some points is a bonus because I don’t think people understand just how standard our bike is at the moment. We are just at the start, but this weekend has been very encouraging.”
At Phillip Island the bikes still had standard swingarms and only relatively basic intake and exhaust modifications, which made Pitt’s double points scores all the more impressive.
Pitt even had a chance to compare his brand new bike to a proven winner, the factory Aprilia. “I ran a few laps together with Max (Biaggi) and Leon (Camier) and it was interesting because there were only a couple of areas where they were better. If we can improve in these areas then we really could begin to surprise a few people.”
Now back in Europe, Pitt’s technical staff are now hard at work to get their S1000RR machines into a greater level of full-race preparation before the next round at Portimao.
Harley-Davidson Stock Jumps on Takeover RumorsTuesday March 16, 2010The business world is buzzing with rumors that Harley-Davidson might be bought out by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts KKR. At the time of this report, Harley stock has leapt 5.77 percent since takeover rumors started swirling today.Incidentally, Harley stock is up 137 percent over a year ago– proof that despite weak sales and a challenging marketplace, the Harley name still holds weight among investors.
via Harley-Davidson Stock Jumps on Takeover Rumors.
THE McLAREN HERITAGE
Two true McLaren legends, Tyler Alexander and Gordon Coppuck, reunite to discuss their experience working with Bruce McLaren. Tyler was a founding member of Bruce McLaren Motor Racing until he retired in 2009. Gordon began his McLaren career in 1963 and was chief designer from 1971 to 1980.
via Heritage / Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
The official BMW Motorrad Motorsport team had some up and down experiences during the opening round of the season, but the team is now working on getting both riders and their machines ready for the first European-based round of the season, at Portimao.
Davide Tardozzi, team manager for the German-based squad, is currently in Spain with the test team, at Valencia, and met with factory rider Ruben Xaus recently.
Ruben was ruled out of the Australian races after the effects of four practice crashes on his mind and body, but Tardozzi confirmed that he is on course for a return at Portimao. “The main issue at this moment is to have Ruben on form in Portimao,” confirmed Tardozzi, who has been Xaus’s team manager in the past, as well as in the BMW set-up in 2010. “We are working on that, it is my priority so far. Ruben is not so bad so far. I am in Spain now and I spoke to him here. I think Ruben still thinks he can be fast and do well, and I have seen he is very well in these two days, so I think he will be ready for Portimao.”
The BMW S1000RR will have more technical updates in Portugal but for Tardozzi improvements must still come gradually, to ensure a more consistent degree of competitiveness. “On the technical side we will have another step on the bike,” said Tardozzi. “We are making progress step by step, not looking for a huge step. You can’t pass from seventh to first immediately; you first have to be consistently close to the top guys. Houses are built stone-by-stone.”
