Australians were really unlucky at the start of the year, with the virus adding to a catastrophic situation in terms of forest fires. The effects of some of these devastating bushfires are still being felt today and, just after the 2020 World Superbike Championship season opened at Phillip Island, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, made up of riders Tom Sykes et Eugene Laverty, from BMW Motorrad Motorsport director Marc Bongers and team principal Shaun Muir, met with residents and firefighters affected by the crisis. These meetings were both inspiring and moving. The three-day visit is now documented in a video.
The day after the first race weekend of the season at Phillip Island, the members of the BMW Motorrad World SBK team came together again on the circuit. This time, however, they did not use their BMW S 1000 RRs, but BMW GSs. Indeed, they were leaving for a rather special off-road circuit, departing from Phillip Island, which took them for three days and 1 km through the areas affected by the recent bush fires.
The tour was organized by BMW Group Australia as part of its bushfire relief efforts. For months, Australia has been hit by devastating fires, resulting in countless people losing their homes and widespread damage to wildlife. BMW Group Australia's initiatives include donating A$600 to the Australian Red Cross for disaster relief and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the world's most influential independent conservation organization.
“As a Superbike rider you have to be fearless, but that’s nothing compared to the courage these men have had to muster over the last few months. Knowing that the worst can happen to them, they go to the fire and that’s damn brave,” said Eugene Laverty with great respect. “I didn't realize before how quickly fires could spread. But these boys show no fear. We understood what was happening in Australia. But it wasn't until you saw the charred trees with your own eyes, and for so many miles, that we really understood. »
“What we saw was really hard to believe,” said a shocked Tom Sykes. “In unaffected areas, you could see how it was before: miles of untouched, beautiful nature with unique flora and many animals, from kangaroos and emus to koalas, deer and snakes. Australia is so rich in species, and it was terrible to see it destroyed by fire. On the other hand, you can also feel hope when you pass by areas where new plants, like eucalyptus trees, are growing through the ashes. »
Here is the video and photos of this trip, followed by two videos relating more specifically to sport and racing:
The support trip to Australia:
The S 1000 RR:
The HP4 at the Tourist Trophy:
Photos © BMW
