HARD GRAFT IN THE MONZA SUN Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport worked hard during the two day test in Monza and left the Italian track with lots of information to digest and work on before the next race in Assen on 26th April. WSBK riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus were joined by team test rider Steve Martin and the trio provided the team with useful info and data during the two days at the Autodromo Monza. Monza is BMW’s designated test track, but they were joined by Ducati, Yamaha and Althea Honda, who had also chosen Monza as their test circuit. During the two days, Troy, Ruben and Steve tested a huge variety of parts and settings instead of chasing lap times and the team left the track happy with the amount of info provided and will now work on that information back in their workshops in Rosenheim. Troy (best lap 1:46.3) We did a lot of useful work here and gave the team a lot more feedback about the bike. The tests showed that we still have some way to go, but the base is very good and the bike’s potential has not been realised yet at all. Unfortunately I had a crash on the second day and badly bruised my left hand when I highsided at the first chicane. Back in the pits, I tried to get on my spare bike, but my left hand was too sore to steer the it properly, so the team and I decided to call it quits. I feel a bit sorry for Ruben, because he had to do his work and mine, but I know he and his team did a great job and no doubt I can repay the compliment sometime. Ruben (best lap 1:46.8) That was a tough test and very, very intensive – especially after Troy crashed and had to stop. My team asked me to try many, many things and I just worked away trying to do as much as possible. At the end, I was physically and mentally finished, but I was happy because I had given the guys lots of data and info to work with and we could see good direction for the future. Sometimes, when you have many things to test, it is easy to lose your way and, for a moment, it was looking that way, but we kept working hard and the team and I finished knowing that we were heading in the right direction – and that’s all you can ask. Rainer Baeumel (Team Manager) This was quite a tough two days for us and I want to say that the riders and the whole team have worked hard and done a very good job. It was a shame that Troy could not ride on the afternoon of the second day, but Ruben and Steve were able to carry out a lot of the work, so I don’t think we lost so much. Lap times may be important to some people, but it was more important for us to keep on learning the bike and making good progress. Thanks to the riders and the whole team, that’s what we did.