Bimota ineligible for WSBK points

The FIM has confirmed that Bimota will remain ineligible to score points in the World Superbike Championship until 125 units of its BB3 entry have been produced to meet the first phase of homologation demands.

Representatives from FIM and Dorna recently visited the Bimota factory in Rimini with a view to verifying its production procedure and to determine whether its business plan remains feasible.

Charles Hennekam, FIM Technical Coordinator and Motorcycle Homologation Officer, together with Gregorio Lavilla, Dorna WSBK Sporting Director, met Daniele Longoni, Bimota Vice President and Andrea Acquaviva, Bimota Technical Director, where monthly motorcycle production forecasts were set out for approval.

Mssrs. Hennekam and Lavilla also had the opportunity to see the homologation documents and the first units produced, and then collect the parts required for the technical inspections to take place during the race weekend.

Bimota's much discussed WSBK debut takes place at Motorland Aragon this weekend, despite having not met the production number required for official homologation. This is despite a recent change in the regulations that reduced the minimum number required to start the homologation procedure from 1000 to 125.

As a result, Bimota, which has paired with former WSBK title-winning outfit Alstare for its burgeoning challenge, will be unable to score points until it has met the production for 125 bikes within four months in accordance with the new rules.

By the end of the year, Bimota will need to have produced 250 units of the BMW-engined BB3 Superbike, with 1000 having been produced by the end of 2015.

Ayrton Badovini and Christian Iddon will ride the Bimota BB3 in the EVO class this season.