With this release, we are pleased to announce to all our supporters the return of the Supersonic-team to the race courts. After the tough decision to stop all racing activities, the following void has been suffered too much, therefore our Team Manager decided to return to the wonderful world of racing. However, changing championship and entering into the fantastic and highly professional English league. A league that in respect of professionalism, quality and spectators seeks one of its kind in the worldwide championships. Although late, this project really starts at the top with 2 drivers lined up on the grid, who will unleash their full potential in the saddle of our fast BMW. Yes, it is in fact the new BMW S1000RR which we have chosen for the upcoming championship. We will have the bikes set in BSB configuration, expertly prepared by Feel Racing the official technical department of BMW Motorrad Italia, participating as well in the SBK World Championship and the FIM Cup Superstock 1000. For this I would like to thank Andrea Buzzoni, Director of BMW Motorrad Italy and Project Director of BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team as well as Daniele Casolari, owner of Feel Racing for the valuable support given to us from the beginning on as well as for the professionalism and passion. With as competitive bikes and such a strong motorcycle company as support we just needed to focus on first line pilots. We were lucky to find an agreement with an internationally experienced “first pilot” with great talent: the Australian Anthony West. A pilot with a high-level history, not needing further presentation, and a brilliant career, who tenthusiastically accepted our offer, convinced that, with Supersonic he may reach the final podium. Our team will be completed by a young driver with great potential, the Swiss Patric Muff, who in 2011 was able to gather experience in BSB and get to know the tracks, previously unknown to him for the most part. We are certain that with our support he will unleash his full potential. Supersonic is back…. DANILO SONCINI: “I’m still excited about everything that has happened in these 2 months! The decision to leave racing had left an emptiness inside that I was not able to fill than with returning to the races. Then there happened to occur this opportunity to compete in the BSB, where in fact I was welcomed like a family member. Mr. Palmer and Mr Higgs have shown a really strong interest and I simply did not resist, especially because the league is really the ultimate expression of passion for motorcycling, which I have always been following. To now be able to compete as Elite Team fills me with pride. The list of people that I have to thank for this project seems never-ending so I’ll just say that true friends, such as Gian Luca Dall’Ara, with an endless passion contributed to make this dream come true which is priceless. Besides, having all of my sponsors follow me without hesitation was a real source of personal pride. Unfortunately the project started late and thus we will not be able to attend the first test rides at the beginnig of March as the bikes are still under construction at BMW. From April 9th onwards we will however, not be caught unprepared but ready to entertain and have fun! Thanks again to all.” ANTONY WEST #13 – ” I’ am really glad to finally have a ride and not have to pay for the privilege. The last few weeks have been mentally really hard for me. After i lost my chance to come back to MotoGP because I couldn’t find a sponsor to bring to the team, I was really disappointed about the direction my sport is going and I was ready to quit racing bikes. But at this point I really have to say thanks to my fans! I honestly didn’t know I had so many people following me and believing in me, ready to support me also in the bad times. They definitely gave me the the will to keep trying. Now my fans and I have to say a big “THANK YOU” to Danilo Soncini, the SuperSonic Team Manager, for giving me the chance to ride on a bike that I think can win races. This will be my only goal.” PATRIC MUFF #24 – “After my podiums and the 4th place in the final standings of the EVO-class, this year I had a single goal only: be back on the grid in the official BSB. After several conversations with different teams, Danilo Soncini, Team Manager of the Supersonic Racing Team, offered me the possibility to ride in his team. A few days later I went to Parma (Italy), where the team is located and we quickly agreed with each other. I’m so happy because the technical background this team offers is a really sophisticated one, with the competitive BMW bikes on the one hand, and the official cooperation with the BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team on the other. I am totally aware of what a big chance all this season offers to me. I’ll do my best to use this great opportunity to achieve excellent results for the team. It certainly will not be easy. With the entry of for example my teammate Anthony West, who is participating as well as Noriyuki Haga, the professional level of this year’s championship certainly increased. However, I can’t wait to sit on my new bike for the first time!” More, from a press release issued by British Superbike Championship organizers: SUPERSONIC RACING SEIZE GRAND PRIX RACE WINNER WEST FOR MCE BSB DEBUT Former Grand Prix race winner Anthony West has today (Friday) become the latest world-class rider to join the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as the Australian was signed up by the Italian Supersonic Racing team to join Swiss contender Patric Muff in their debut season. West has competed at the top level of Grand Prix racing during his career and secured five podium finishes in the 250cc Grand Prix class, including an astounding win at Assen. The former Kawasaki MotoGP protagonist has also celebrated victories in the World Supersport Championship before his most recent appearances in the Moto2 World Championship. Dramatically, West looked like he would miss the chance to compete in 2012, but as the Supersonic Racing team announced their arrival in MCE BSB team owner Danilo Soncini grasped the opportunity to sign the experienced Australian. Muff returns for his second MCE BSB season after scoring podium finishes in last year’s BSB Evo class. West said: “It has been a difficult couple of weeks for me; I obviously lost the ride in MotoGP and before then I hadn’t looked outside of that paddock. I looked at what John (Hopkins) had done by racing in BSB last year and I thought it could be a good move for me. I don’t know a lot of the tracks, but I have experience of learning fast from the different championships I have raced in before. It will also be a new experience riding the BMW Superbike so it is exciting for me; the competition this year looks like it will be the best it has ever been in BSB so it will be a new challenge. My fans have been a great support to me and it was also their reaction of wanting to see me race in BSB that pushed me to continue my racing career.” Muff said: “After my podiums and fourth place in BSB Evo last year, this season I had a single goal and that was to be back on the grid. After conversations with different teams, Danilo Soncini of Supersonic Racing offered me the chance to ride in his team. I’m so happy because they have a strong technical background with the official support from BMW Motorrad Italia. I am totally aware of what a big opportunity this is for me and I’ll do my best to achieve the results. It certainly will not be easy with the entry of riders like my team-mate Anthony West and Noriyuki Haga, the level of competition this year has certainly increased. However, I can’t wait to sit on my new bike for the first time!” The Supersonic team directed by Soncini, announced their retirement from the World Superbike Championship in September 2011 and their decision to enter MCE BSB represents a renewed enthusiasm for the sport. The team will be equipped with factory specification BMW S1000RR hardware supplied by BMW Motorrad Italia and will be adapted for the new BSB technical regulations. Team owner Soncini said: “I’m still excited about everything that has happened in these past two months. The decision to leave racing had left an emptiness that I was unable to fill in any other way than returning to racing, then there was an opportunity to compete in BSB. The championship is really the ultimate expression of passion for motorcycling and to be able to compete as an Elite Team fills me with pride. The list of people that I have to thank for this project seems never-ending as so many have contributed to make this dream come true. We are ready to entertain and have fun!”