The next stop for the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team and BMW factory riders Marco Melandri (ITA) and Chaz Davies (GBR) is Silverstone, Great Britain. The famous circuit will host the ninth round of the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend (2nd to 4th August.) For Chaz, it is the second home round of the season after the Donington Park round at the end of May.
After riding his BMW S 1000 RR to victory at the last round in Russia, Marco improved to third in the Riders’ classification with 207 points, 32 points adrift of the lead. Chaz, who finished second in Russia, is fifth with 174 points. In the Manufacturers’ classification, BMW has collected 262 points so far and is currently third, 38 points from the lead. After BMW Motorrad Motorsport announced last week that it will withdraw from the FIM Superbike World Championship at the end of the 2013 season, the squad remains focused on claiming more strong results in the remaining rounds of the year.
At Silverstone, the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup will return to action after a five weeks break. This weekend there will be two races for the BMW Motorrad Goldbet STK Team to tackle, with riders Sylvain Barrier (FRA) and Greg Gildenhuys (RSA). BMW is currently leading in both the rider and manufacturer standings. Sylvain, who has won three of the five races contested this year with the new BMW HP4, tops the Riders’ classification with an advantage of twelve points. In the Manufacturers’ classification, BMW is in front too, having a gap of five points to its closest rival.
Marco Melandri
“Silverstone is a great and fast track and at the same time it is also very difficult due to its changes of pace and bumpy surface but I still really like it. I hope that the weather – which is always unpredictable in the UK – will be good this time. I’m sorry for the decision BMW has taken but unfortunately I’m used to such situations. I’m not really worried because for us riders it is always possible to find a solution, although, of course, at this important stage of the season it is not good for our mood. I hope that the experience will help me to handle it.”
Chaz Davies
“Of course I feel sorry about BMW Motorrad’s decision, but this year we still have a long season ahead of us with many rounds in which we want to continue to be successful. So we keep being focused and working hard. The next round is my home race at Silverstone. Even though I would not rank it as one of my most favourite circuits, I quite enjoy riding there. It is different challenges because it is quite fast and open. In addition, you find different corners on this circuit than you find anywhere else. It is completely flat but it is very difficult to set the bike up, especially a Superbike, because it is bumpy. There is a lot of work in setting the suspension up and sometimes you get it right and sometimes you can get it wrong. It is a really demanding circuit for the crews. I am looking forward to racing at home. Superbikes are pretty popular in the UK and I hope that a lot of people will come to watch me.”
