BMW have confirmed they are in talks with
Troy Corser about filling the one remaining seat in their World Superbike team for 2009, but insisted no deal has been sealed yet.
The German manufacturer's arrival in WSBK has generated plenty of column inches over the last couple of weeks following the announcement that
Ruben Xaus will switch to them from Ducati. Attention, though, has now turned to the identity of who will join him there.
Corser has long been linked with a defection to the fledgling team and with Xaus adding his voice to the anticipation of his arrival, the way seems to have been paved clear for an imminent announcement. Even so, there has never been an official word from BMW that they are courting the Australian until now.
Singling Corser out especially before adding that having two experienced riders to forge their line-up is the intention, Peter Mueller,
BMW's Executive Vice President of Development and Model Lines, was not, however, willing to reveal whether a second signature had graced the dotted line yet.
"We are speaking with many other riders not just Troy Corser because at the end we do not know who will sign," he said.
"But I think it will be an experienced rider because we are new in this game and other teams have great experience, so having a proven Superbike rider would be useful for us. We are talking to some other riders, but in September we want to have everything in place."
BMW have been the centre of attention since the revelation that Xaus would ride one of their innovative S1000s next season.
However, although the project is well on track, BMW played down rumours of a competition debut in either the World or German Superbike Championships occurring later this year, insisting they are spending their time testing at the appropriate circuits to measure their competitiveness.
