Munich/Stephanskirchen, 21st June 2010. Following a brace of overseas race weekends and an extensive programme of testing over the past two weeks, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport can now look forward to one of the classic events on the FIM Superbike World Championship calendar. Races 15 and 16 of the season will take place at the Misano World Circuit at Misano Adriatico, Italy, not far from the Republic of San Marino. Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport will travel to the Adriatic coast with 130 World Championship points in the bank – just 11 points fewer than their total for the whole of the 2009 season. Ruben Xaus (ESP) already has three victories to his name at Misano, making him one of the Superbike World Championship’s most successful riders at the circuit. Only Troy Bayliss (AUS) can boast a better record here, having notched up two more wins than the Catalan. Troy Corser: “The Italian fans certainly make themselves heard at Misano. They love their motorcycle racing and welcome us with open arms. I’ve competed at the circuit many times, and it’s a real fixture of the Superbike World Championship calendar. In 2000 I won both races here for Aprilia in their home event – that was my best weekend here so far. Modifications were made to the circuit in 2006 and we now race clockwise. That was a nice change; although this was a familiar venue for the riders, we all had to start from square one again. The track is quite twisty and there are a few bumps, but it’s still pretty fast. Returning to sea level means we will have more power again.” Ruben Xaus: “I’m really looking forward to the races at Misano and am a big fan of a circuit where I’ve won three times. At Misano every area of the track is important – it’s one of those circuits where you can’t afford to make a single mistake. The moment you slide off line, that’s it. Bike set-up is about compromise. There are bumps, fast and slow corners, and a long back straight. Engine braking is an important factor going into the hairpins at the end of the long straights. On the Thursday before the race weekend I will be riding a BMW S 1000 RR alongside several other riders in a parade through the historic old town of San Marino. That’s something I’m very much looking forward to.” Berthold Hauser, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “There’s a very special atmosphere during the race weekend at Misano, which is part of the Superbike World Championship heartland. Many of those who work in the paddock come from this region and these are their personal home races. We can be satisfied with how the first half of the season has gone. With 14 World Championship races completed, BMW Motorrad Motorsport have already collected 130 points in the manufacturers’ standings, which leaves us not far short of our points haul for the whole of 2009. We recorded our first podium finish at Monza and have finished in the top five on five other occasions as well. We will go into the forthcoming races in confident mood.” Background: The Misano World Circuit, formerly known as the “Autodromo di Santamonica”, opened its gates at Misano Adriatico (IT) in 1972. In its original incarnation the track measured 3.488 kilometres in length. However, in 1993 the circuit was extensively modified and stretched to 4.060 km. Another round of modernisation work was carried out in 2006, since when the riders have raced clockwise around the track and enjoyed larger run-off areas as a result. Misano has hosted the Superbike World Championship since 1991. Ruben Xaus has won here three times so far in his career, while Troy Corser has made it to the top step of the podium on two occasions. Although Misano lies in Italy, the Superbike event here takes place under the flag of the city-state San Marino. The large number of chicanes at the Misano World Circuit demand good steering responses from the bikes. There are several interesting braking points, some of which reach deep into the corners. With high speeds possible on the straight leading out of Tramonto, the riders have to display considerable bravery on the entry into Curvone and ensure they nail the corner perfectly. All in all, this is a very fluid circuit where good acceleration is critical.