Lussiana back in the lead – Wins for the BMW S 1000 RR in France and Canada
It is an impressive number: the field of the participants in the 2015 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy has grown to 100 BMW Motorrad privateers. At the top the lead has changed again: Matthieu Lussiana (FR) is back in front after a successful weekend in the Moto 1000 GP (MT1GP) in Goiânia, Brazil.
BMW riders have been in action in championships on a total of four continents this weekend. In the French European Bikes Championship (FR EU) they claimed a one-two-three for the BMW S 1000 RR. In the FIM Sidecar World Championship (SWC) two BMW pairings stepped onto the podium at Pannoniaring (HU).
In Canada BMW privateer Jordan Szoke (CA) celebrated his second win of the season in the Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK). In addition the BMW Motorrad privateers raced in Japan, the US and Australia.
2015 BMW Motorrad Race Trophy
The BMW Motorrad Race Trophy was a big success in its 2014 inaugural season. In 2015 the unique competition is even more popular among the privateer BMW Motorrad riders around the globe: this year no fewer than 100 participants from 66 different teams and 21 different nations on six continents have registered. They compete in 22 different championship classes worldwide.
The battle for the top spots continues to be exciting, with the lead changing again this week. Matthieu Lussiana (FR / MT1GP) returned to first place with 213.33 Race Trophy points. He is closely followed by the previous leader, Roberto Tamburini (IT / STK 1000), who is second with 212.00 points. New in third position is Florian Brunet-Lugardon (FR / FR EU) with 203.08 points (see full rankings below).
Moto 1000 GP in Goiânia, Brazil
The fans in Goiânia (BR) have been thrilled with exiting race action at the third round of the 2015 Moto 1000 GP (MT1GP) season. After winning the two previous races, Matthieu Lussiana (FR) was the favourite this weekend again. He confirmed that by claiming pole-position with his BMW S 1000 RR from the BMW Motorrad Petronas Racing team on Saturday.
In Sunday’s race he rode the fastest lap time by setting a new record and lead most of the race. However, he had to battle an exciting duel with his rival Diego Pierluigi (AR), who was on his heels all the time. Only at the very end did Pierluigi take the lead, and Lussiana crossed the line in second, a mere 0.055 seconds behind his rival. In the championship standings Lussiana continues to lead with an advantage of 21 points over Pierluigi. With the Race Trophy points he scored at Goiânia Lussiana regained the lead in the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy. His team-mate Sebastián Porto (AR) unfortunately had a big crash in the first qualifying, fracturing his tibia. The whole BMW Motorrad Motorsport community wishes him a speedy recovery.
French Superbike Championship in Magny-Cours, France
The “Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours” (FR) hosted the fifth round of the 2015 French Superbike Championship (FSBK). In the Stock class (FSBK STK) Emeric Jonchière (FR / ERT BMW Motorrad Club France) finished both races in eighth. In the overall classification he was 16th on both occasions. His team-mate Camille Hedelin (FR) retired in race one and was 15th in the Stock class in race two (23rd overall). EVO rider Nicolas Pouhair (FR / MSC Courneuvien 93) crashed in qualifying and was not able to take part in race one. In the second race he crossed the line 12th overall and seventh in the EVO class (FSBK SBK).
The French European Bikes Championship (FR EU) also held its fifth round of the season at Magny-Cours. BMW privateer riders claimed a one-two-three for the BMW S 1000 RR in race one. Florian Brunet-Lugardon (FR / Gers Moto Vitesse Ordannaise) won, Benjamin Colliaux (FR / Team CMS – R2T) was second and Cyril Brunet Lugardon (FR / Gers Moto Vitesse Ordannaise) third on the podium.
In total eight BMW riders crossed the line within the top-11. In race two Colliaux stepped onto the podium again, finishing third. Four BMW riders were among the top-six. Florian Brunet-Lugardon was in the lead most of the race but crashed. He was able to re-join the race but had to settle for sixth. In the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy he improved to third position.
FIM Sidecar World Championship at the Pannoniaring, Hungary
Just one week after its visit to Croatia the 2015 FIM Sidecar World Championship (SWC) was back in action this weekend at Pannoniaring in Hungary. While Saturday’s sprint race was held in dry conditions, the sidecar crews had to fight with wet conditions in Sunday’s gold race. The Finnish BMW duo of Pekka Päivärinta / Kirsi Kainulainen (44-Racing) were second on the podium on both occasions.
In the overall world championship rankings they dropped back to second, only five points behind the new leaders. Uwe Gürck (DE) and Manfred Wechselberger (AT) from Polizei Sport Verein Wels also stepped onto the podium, finishing the first race in third. They were fourth in race two. Mike Roscher / Anna Burkard (DE / Roscher-Burkard-Penz13) finished fifth and seventh with their BMW sidecar.
Canadian Superbike Championship in St. Eustache, Canada
Jordan Szoke (CA) withstood the tricky conditions with torrential rain at the second round of the 2015 Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) in St. Eustache (CA). The multiple Canadian Superbike Champion celebrated his second win of the season on his BMW S 1000 RR from the Mopar Express Lane BMW Superbike Team. In doing so he extended his lead in the championship to 20 points over his next rival. His fellow BMW rider Michael Leon (CA / Royal Distributing Superbike Team) battled with Szoke for the win, but crashed out in the tricky conditions. BMW privateer Reiner Griese also retired after a fall. Both are unhurt.
MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship in Sugo, Japan
At the fourth round of the 2015 MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship (MFJ) in Sugo (JP) an endurance race with rider changes was held. Two BMW pairings lined-up on the grid. Daisaku Sakai / Shinya Takeishi (JP / CONFIA Flex Motorrad39) finished eighth on their BMW S 1000 RR, while Koji Teramoto / Yuuta Kodama (JP / Team Tras135HP) crossed the line in 13th.
MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series at Miller Motorsports Park, US
The sixth round of the 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship (AMA) was held at Miller Motorsports Park (US) this weekend. In the Superbike class, (AMA SBK), BMW privateer Matthew Orange (US / O.C. Racing) finished 11th and ninth. Marcel Irnie (CA / Mobi/Irnie Racing) crashed in race one and was eighth in the Superstock class (AMA STK) in race two.
AustralAsian Superbike Championship in Sydney, Australia
The BMW Motorrad privateers have also been in action in Australia this weekend. No fewer than seven BMW S 1000 RRs took to the track at the third round of the 2015 AustralAsian Superbike Championship (AAS) at Sydney Motorsports Park (AU). In the “Formula Xtreme” class, Eray Yusuf (AU) claimed one eighth and two ninth spots overall. He was second in “Group D” within the class on all three occasions.
Peter Stamoulis (AU) was ninth, eighth and tenth. Steve Maher (AU) had to retire from race day after a crash in race one. In the “Formula Oz” class, Anthony Saad (AU) was the best placed of the four competing BMW riders. He was seventh and eighth in the first two races (both times second in “Group C” within the class) but crashed out in race three.
