BMW Safety Cars in the Motorcycle Road Grand Prix (MotoGP)

[totalmotorcycle]

BMW Safety Cars in the Motorcycle Road Grand Prix (MotoGP)
Friday, November 3, 2006 - BMW Press Release


The MotoGP is not only a motorsports series – it is one of the best-known sports events there is. The only event commanding an even larger number of viewers is Formula 1, that is, of course, apart from the football World Cup, and the Olympic Games, but these are only held every four years. On the other hand, this race series attracts more than two million spectators per year all told, with individual heats attracting more than 200,000 fans. And then there are the more than 310 million viewer watching the MotoGP on television in more than 200 countries around the world.

The Motorcycle Grand Prix is divided into three classes: 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP. This royal class among motorsports has existed since 2002 and has effectively replaced the old 500cc two-stroke class with 1000cc four-stroke machines. The motorcycles that take part in the MotoGP are pure prototypes, with a monstrous power availability of 240 hp that is capable of taking them up to speeds of 350 km/h.

Altogether 18 races are held every year, with more than 80 riders from 17 countries across all five continents taking part.

Since 1999, BMW has also been providing the 'safety cars' for the events and it also holds the marketing rights. In 2006, this cooperation with the Spanish DORNA company that organises the MotoGP races has been extended by a further four years.

This translates to a total of 30 cars that BMW provides for the use of the organisation. The fleet found in operation around the racing track in 2006 comprised M6, M5, 750i, 550i Touring, X5 4.4 and 330i Touring models, while for 2007, BMW M will be substituting a number of new models. A further twelve BMW X5 cars are in use around the racing area for shuttle purposes.

Further publicity measures include the so-called BMW A Award, presented by BMW M for the fastest rider in the qualifying rounds and the first official test at the start of the season. While the star rider Valentino Rossi was in the winner in most of the previous years, in March 2006 it was Colin Edwards who was able to claim the first car prize of a BMW Z4 M Roadster. The BMW M Award 2006 for the fastest average qualifier was won by American rider, Nicky Hayden in the final heat in Valencia, Spain – the prize being a brand new BMW Z4 M Coupé.

BMW M took full advantage of the MotoGP platform to reach racing enthusiasts with an interest in high tech – a customer group that is extremely interesting for BMW. After all, more than 90% of motorcycle riders also own a car, and can testify to a highly developed interest in high tech engineering solutions.