The Brno Circuit (Czech Republic) will host next weekend's eighth round of the Superbike World Championship where the BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team will have its full complement of Ayrton Badovini and James Toseland in the top category and Lorenzo Zanetti and Sylvain Barrier in Superstock.
In the wake of the encouraging results gathered in recent races, the BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team intends to continue the positive trend at the Brno circuit. Ayrton Badovini, who has won at Brno twice in 2006 and 2010, both in Superstock, wants to continue to collect points to remain in the World Championship top ten which he entered after the race at Misano. Ayrton has also previously raced on the Czech circuit in Superbikes, but remained outside the points.
In Friday practice James Toseland will be back riding the BMW S 1000 RR and is continuing his rehabilitation after his accident at the Motorland Aragon circuit in February during private testing. James attempted to return to the track previously but his injured wrist prevented him from riding at full capacity. Returning at Brno is of significance to the British rider who won there in 2007 and finished in second place three times.
If James is unable to race, Lorenzo Lanzi will be on standby at the Czech Republic circuit that saw him star in great races such as in 2007 when he scored a seventh and an eighth.
Lorenzo Zanetti, after his second place at Motorland Aragon, will be trying to improve on his current third place in the FIM Superstock Cup overall standings. Lorenzo’s 2010 second place will serve to motivate him even more. Sylvain Barrier, currently fourth in the FIM Cup, will try to catch the trio ahead. Last year saw the Frenchman retire with a fall.
Serafino Foti, Sports Director of BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike Team said: "James will return in Brno and will try riding in the first practice on Friday to see how his wrist responds. If it goes well on a long run he will race. Otherwise, Lorenzo Lanzi will replace him as early as the second session. We all hope that James is in good condition so that he can resume his season that was interrupted after the first few races.As for Ayrton, we have worked on the balance of the bike and tried to improve the set-up from Aragon. We expect a good race from him because of his ability to ride at the front and also that our bike suits the Brno circuit well. In the Superstock we are working to rival Ducati who are currently leading FIM Cup and I am convinced that Lorenzo and Barrier will have a good race."
[Press Release Courtesy of BMW]
