BMW in AMA superbike?

[tufty]

So I was talking with Nate Kern last night and he claims that BMW is seriously entertaining running a 2 rider team in AMA next year. Apparently there is just one more person left to sign off on the plan and it's a go. He also said that there is a lot of consternation in the paddock over Mladin retiring since many of the guys used him as a benchmark for world racing standards.

Any thoughts?

(btw, the new BMW S1000RR is good looking well made scoot... for a 4 banger )

[superjohn]

They've done well in WSBK, so I would think they could compete well in AMA.

[Triple J]

They've done well in WSBK, so I would think they could compete well in AMA.

They have? 

They're second to last in the manuf. standings...above only Kawasaki...46 points below 5th...and 325 points out of 1st.

[gm2]

They have? 

They're second to last in the manuf. standings...above only Kawasaki...46 points below 5th...and 325 points out of 1st.

for a brand new bike from a manu who doesn't have a bunch of current race experience in other classes to refer to (aprilia), they've had very respectable moments in quite a few races.  they may not have finished them all or have race distance down, but for starting from scratch, they're doing well.

[superjohn]

for a brand new bike from a manu who doesn't have a bunch of current race experience in other classes to refer to (aprilia), they've had very respectable moments in quite a few races.  they may not have finished them all or have race distance down, but for starting from scratch, they're doing well.

Exactly.

[rockaduc]

Why would they waste their time w/ AMA/DMG anyway?  That series is such a POS to begin with, now w/ Mladin going after this year...I dunno what I was going to say anymore.

Makes the beast with two backs, I hate when that happens.

[derby]

Why would they waste their time w/ AMA/DMG anyway? 

if you saw the amount of bmw riders that made the trek out to miller for the worldsbk race, it'd make perfect sense.

[zooom]

or the number of motorcycles they'de sell due to being in the light of being a racing machine?

[fastwin]

Maybe they want to re-live the good old days like when they won the inaugural AMA Superbike Championship in 1976 with Reggie Pridmore on a Butler and Smith R90S!!!!! Doubt if anyone with Bimmer was even alive back then.

[DanTheMan]

if you saw the amount of bmw riders that made the trek out to miller for the worldsbk race, it'd make perfect sense.

even local, when parriot was riding the bmw out of SJ, the had a big following of touring bikes show up.

[zooom]

in all seriousness for a moment though, I was talking to a buddy who races CCS and WERA and he is a hardcore through and through Suzuki guy and told me how much he finds himself looking seriously at the Beemer S1000RR over a newer Gixxer for next year's race season due to the package of stuff that comes on the Beemer for really and truly not much more than the 'Zuke.

[tufty]

in all seriousness for a moment though, I was talking to a buddy who races CCS and WERA and he is a hardcore through and through Suzuki guy and told me how much he finds himself looking seriously at the Beemer S1000RR over a newer Gixxer for next year's race season due to the package of stuff that comes on the Beemer for really and truly not much more than the 'Zuke.

Well that and all the unofficial dyno runs have the BMW making waaay more horsepower BEFORE any mods.