The MotoGP field is made up of six manufacturers and in view of the plans revealed for the future post 2021, he has every chance of keeping this appearance. As a main development, the premier category of Grand Prix will increase its calendar to 22 events, one more than in Formula 1. Against 19 currently. Opposite, there is a Superbike, managed by the same promoter Dorna, whose Kawasaki and BMW projects have no counterpart in MotoGP. We knew that Akashi's firm, after having tasted it for a while, would not return to it again. But for the Bavarians, the question was still unanswered. BMW, after all, is the supplier of the officials' fleet during a Grand Prix... But the answer has come...
And it will be no. Said Dr. Markus Schramm Managing Director of BMW Motorrad. The Germans will not challenge KTM's Austrian cousins. And for good reason. To the “ready to race” of the orange tunics, the Munich residents respond with another slogan, which, on the other hand, fits perfectly with an investment in WSBK. The manager explains: “ there is no MotoGP subject with us and we are convinced of this decision. If there has been a gap for our die-hard motorsport fans, our customer sports program is now appreciated. The proximity to the production motorcycle is an interesting thing for us ».
« In a word, such an event like MotoGP does not suit me. The Superbike World Championship is a suitable discipline, without me wanting to devalue the Grands Prix. If someone comes in there, it's okay, they do it with a different background. I think the World Superbike Championship fits our brand much better. We focus on the customer and say “make life a ride”. Fans can identify much more strongly with the SBK because the base is the stock motorcycle ».
That being said, the BMW name on a Grand Prix motorcycle could become possible in...MotoE : “ It's too early for me, but I don't want to rule that out. We will focus more on electric mobility. But you have to do it step by step. We are focusing on the World Superbike Championship, we want to do it reasonably and not eat every dish. This is why the Grand Prix is not a topic at the moment ».
As for the German-speaking people who dream one day of a direct duel between BMW and KTM in a motorcycle sport category, they are also at their expense... Because the only remaining opportunity is also ruled out by the same Schramm on speedweek: " the Dakar looks like MotoGP to me. On the Dakar, I am not on the normal terrain where our customers travel. With the GS Trophy, we have found a significantly larger and more permanent format. There is a broad impact and passion around it, as well as the idea of family, as if we were riding the Dakar. The Dakar is not a subject for us either ».
