Rainer Bäumel switches to BMW Motorrad Development. Munich/Stephanskirchen, 12th October 2011. Change in personnel at BMW Motorrad Motorsport: Rainer Bäumel (45), Head of Race Operations, will leave the factory team at the end of the 2011 season, to take on the role of Project Manager on a new vehicle project at BMW Motorrad. The man from Landshut played a crucial role in the entry of BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the Superbike World Championship, and was involved in the sporting development of the team in various roles. Bäumel’s successor as Head of Race Operations will be announced at a later date. Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad, says: “Over the past four years, Rainer Bäumel played a crucial part in setting up and developing BMW Motorrad’s Superbike project. As Project Manager, Technical Director and Head of Race Operations, he poured his heart and soul into the subject and was influential in defining the character and sporting development of BMW Motorrad in the World Championship. I would like to thank him for this, on behalf of BMW Motorrad. Within the framework of our product offensive, we must redeploy some of the capacity existing within the company. This also applies to motorsport. From mid-October, Rainer Bäumel will take on the role of Project Manager within a new vehicle project at BMW Motorrad.” Bäumel says: “The last few years were a very formative time for me. When you work so closely and intensely together in competitive racing, the team becomes like a second family. For that reason, it will not be easy to bid farewell. On the other hand, I am very much looking forward to the new challenge in BMW Motorrad Development and will, of course, continue to keep my fingers crossed for the team.” BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Bernhard Gobmeier adds: “Rainer Bäumel’s departure is without doubt a loss for the team. We wish Rainer all the best in his exciting, new role. We will now sound the market and appoint an adequate and experienced successor as soon as possible.” Rainer Bäumel studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Landshut between 1986 and 1991. From 1994 to 1997 he was employed as Test and Technology Editor at the specialist magazine “Motorrad”, before moving to BMW Motorrad as an engineer working in the field of advanced chassis development in 1997. Between 2000 and 2007 he was Project Manager of the Boxer series. In 2007 he moved into motorsport with the Endurance project with the BMW HP2 Sport. In 2008 Rainer Bäumel took over the project management and technical management of Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the Superbike World Championship, before stepping into the role of Head of Race Operations in 2011.