Xaus impressed with BMW package
Added on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Xaus: Happy with life at BMW.
Ruben Xaus is already impressed with the package the BMW will be providing in the 2009 World Superbikes having completed just one test with the German team.
BMW will enter World Superbikes for the first time in 2009 and has already demonstrated its ambitions to take on the Japanese marques with the high-profile signings of Xaus and Troy Corser and it now seems that the new S1000R, unveiled at the Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter show last week, is capable of competing with the established names in WSB.
Commenting after the first test in Valencia, Xaus reckoned that whilst there was work to do, both the bike and the team ethos means that BMW could be a success.
“BMW in WSB next year will be very interesting for everyone because it is a big factory and they have big potential to produce a really good bike. The new bike has been born from nothing; we have no data base from 2008, so it is different for us. But having ridden it in Valencia the base is, really, in a good place. We have a lot to do still with the electronics systems and mapping, but that is something for the technicians more than the riders. As a rider I can say the chassis is good, the bike is good, agility, handling and everything is really nice. It is also comfortable to ride and I am happy about it. We have no goals right away. My team-mate Troy is good so all of this together can be a very positive package.”
Xaus also spoke about the overall importance of a factory like BMW coming into WSB racing. “A brand like BMW, based in Europe, is a very serious, strict company. I like this mentality. As a rider, I always give 100% and I know that I have someone behind me that gives 100% too. BMW will show a lot in world Superbike because they have a good mentality, strong, and they have shown in Formula 1 that if they want they can.”
