Bavarian giant confirms its return to TT battle
Picture: Jack Corry
William Dunlop powers through the village of Faugheen during last year's races.
Wednesday March 10 2010
HAVING recently re-joined the international stage, German manufacturer BMW has wasted no time in tackling the biggest test of all. An announcement has been made that an official manufacturer-supported team will be contesting the Superbike and Senior Isle of Man TT Races in 2010 – further increasing the number of manufacturers participating this year.
It's only 12 months since the Bavarian giant entered the World Superbike Championship for the first time, but now – fresh from a stunning fifth place at the 2009 Macau GP – German ace Rico Penzkofer will have a full Superbike-spec machine at his disposal for the two six-lap TT races.
An official test rider for BMW, 34-year-old Penzkofer has been part of the major development team of the S1000RR, a bike that has created headlines all over the world both for its design and performance.
It will be the first time since the late 1970s that an official BMW team has contested the TT, when Helmut Dahne and Hans Otto Butenuth, both iconic riders from that era, raced on the Isle of Man. BMW has recorded 30 TT wins since their debut in 1937, with the majority of those coming in the sidecar class that they once dominated.
Penzkofer, meanwhile, made a strong debut at the TT last year when he contested the two Supersport races. He achieved a personal best lap of just under 120mph and left the Island with two bronze replicas.
With a year's experience around the Mountain Course, the Borna rider is sure to feature more prominently this year and the former World Endurance Championship race winner is relishing his return to the TT.
