PICS: Reitwagen BMW makes public debut

Reitwagen BMW makes it out on track for the first time at Phillip Island, with Andrew Pitt immediately pushing the factory riders hard

Ollie Barstow

21 Feb 2010

Pitt, Australian WSBK Test 2010
© Gold and Goose

A handful of new faces made their 2010 debut during the first day of World Superbike testing at Phillip Island, with Reitwagen BMW, DFX Ducati and PATA B&G Ducati all making an appearance ahead of next week's season opener.

Of the trio, Reitwagen BMW's outing was the most significant, the Austrian team having maintained a low profile since revealing its intention to race with double World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt and Roland Resch more than two months ago.

Wearing fairly minimal branding, the black, red and silver BMW S1000RRs put in a solid performance for their first public display, Pitt setting the 18th fastest time but getting to within two tenths of factory BMW rider Ruben Xaus by the end of the day. Resch was 21st fastest out of 24 riders.

DFX, meanwhile, shook off the cobwebs during the morning session when Lorenzo Lanzi posted the fifth fastest time, while Jakub Smrz progressed to the eighth best time during the afternoon aboard his white Ducati.

In addition, Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia and Echo CRS all ran in their 2010 liveries for the first time.

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