Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/213117
IN THE WIND PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE from the Downunder Motorsport plan, however, is the last part of the budget to allow the team to go ahead. Central to the team is the involvement of two-time World Superbike Champion Corser, and his close links with BMW. "Pretty much all we need is some more money to get the project up and running," Corser said. "I think that the involvement of people like Tom and me in the team and my connection to BMW is strong. I think I can bring not only a lot of advice to the team but also the riders, helping them with bike set-up and on the technical side. I would say that these are fairly strong points of our project." Corser explained the reason to go Evo straight away. "We are starting off in the EVO class as this uses 2014 as a racing and development year for when the whole World Superbike class goes Evo in 2015," the Aussie said. "If we cannot do this whole thing on our own, we are PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE P24 Troy Corser's new Downunder Motorsports Team is getting close to fruition. looking at collaboration possibilities. I am sure some people have not got the material they want or the manufacturer they want, and that is another option we are going to take a look at." It is understood that BMW are keeping firm to their new strategy of customer support, meaning that even a team with Corser – a Kawasaki's Loris Baz turned in the best time from the recent World Superbike test at Motorland Aragon in Spain. BMW ambassador – at its head will still be a private team, with no straight cash funding from BMW. "We have people in place, people that are currently or were on the BMW program," said Larsen. "We have an agreement to go back to Rosenheim to the old [original official team] workshop facility. Everything is in place except the final fiscal part. We are looking for around 40 percent of the budget." With Corser's name and reputation as a test rider involved in the project, Larsen thinks the team would have some advantages over most others. "We are looking to be using 2012 material similar to that we developed when we were working with BMW and we have a pretty awesome test rider - that is another thing that is very important," he said. There will be no official BMW entry in 2014 in World Superbike racing, but if the Aussie team comes off this may be the closest thing to it on the Evo grid. Gordon Ritchie MOTORLAND TESTING FORfour most successful teams in World SuperTHE BIG FOUR he T bike this season were all out testing again last week – this time at Motorland Aragon in Spain. In cool, dry but often windy conditions, the fastest lap of all was set by Kawasaki's Loris Baz with a 1:57 flat, albeit on a qualifying tire. If you discount the Q tire, the fastest man was Pata Honda's Jonathan Rea with a 1:57.4. Still recovcontinued on page 26