BMW have set themselves modest targets ahead of their World Superbike debut in 2009, the German manufacturer claiming it is their aim just to be competitive in their first season.
Although a new manufacturer in the increasingly competitive World Superbike arena hasn't been forthcoming in some time, BMW's high-profile presence is expected to see them become winners sooner rather than later.
However, Executive Vice President of Development and Model Lines Peter Mueller, insists that a top ten result in the first year, followed a podium challenge in the second season, would match their objectives.
“We have to be realistic about our chances in the first season,” he told
Crash.net exclusively. “Although the package of the bike is good and we have an excellent rider with Ruben we have to be patient and learn a lot. We will try to establish ourselves in the top 10 within the first season.
“We will also try to consistently close the gap to the top teams. In year 2 we plan to catch up with the top teams and to win our first podiums. In the end we of course want to win the championship.”
Meanwhile, speculation as to who will partner
Ruben Xaus in the team continues apace, with
Troy Corser the big favourite to make a switch from Yamaha to complete the line-up. However, regardless of Xaus and Corser, Mueller does admit there is one other rider he would particularly like in the BMW team…
“Max (Neukirchner) performs absolutely marvellously and we are very happy for him. He certainly is the shooting star of this season. Of course we would like to see him with our team in the future. For 2009 he has signed with Suzuki though. We wish him all the best.”
In addition, Mueller also revealed why BMW chose to compete in
World Superbikes, instead of
MotoGP where they had been touted as going some time before they announced they would be racing production bikes.
“We deliberately took this decision for a very comprehensible reason: The Superbike World Championship represents a racing series with a direct relation to the products in the showroom.
"Our future customers all over the world will watch “their” motorcycle competing. We are concentrating on this huge challenge now.
MotoGP is no current issue.”
