Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport is positioning itself more
broadly with a new and expanded structure, as it sets course for the
future. Under the overall direction of BMW Motorrad Motorsport
Director Marc Bongers, the roles of Technical Director and Head of
Customer Racing have been created. The new Technical Director at BMW
Motorrad Motorsport is Christian Gonschor. Uwe Geyer is taking on
the role of Head of Customer Racing, alongside his position as Head
of Marketing. Both report directly to Bongers. Additional
specialised teams, including an independent test team, have also
been formed within BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The Development and Test
departments in Munich and Berlin are being expanded and synergies
between BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the production development of
the BMW M 1000 RR are to be taken full advantage of
. Customer Racing will also be strengthened further.
“With this new structure, we are optimising the way we are set up for
development and test work, for our works projects and customer
racing,” says Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad. “This allows
us to increase our capacities in Munich and our engine plant in
Berlin, and thus to strengthen the development and test work for the
FIM Superbike World Championship and the FIM Endurance World
Championship, as well as for our Customer Racing programme. The
connection to production development, under the leadership of
Christoph Lischka, has been intensified. I am confident that we are
well positioned for the future with these and other reforms.”
Several teams to drive motor racing development in Munich and Berlin.
As Technical Director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, Christian Gonschor
has been tasked with optimising the technical organisation of
development and test work. Under his leadership, different specialised
teams have been formed for the test team, chassis, engine, electronics
and aerodynamics areas. These teams are primarily based in Munich,
where specific workshops, test and development motorcycles, testbeds
and wind tunnels ensure they have optimal conditions for developing
and testing the BMW M 1000 RR and new racing components. On the engine
side of things, this takes place in close cooperation with the BMW
Motorrad plant in Berlin. Furthermore, corresponding capacities for
internal development and test work will be increased in both Munich
and Berlin.
In Munich, BMW Motorrad Motorsport is based on the same premises as
the production development of the BMW M 1000 RR. The close proximity
and direct communication allows the best possible use of the many
synergies between the different departments.
The separate new test team is organised and run directly by BMW
Motorrad Motorsport. “One of the benefits is that the test team can
focus fully on test work at the racetrack, regardless of any race
outings,” says Gonschor. “To achieve this, we are also putting
together a separate pool of test riders. The focus here is on test
work for our WorldSBK project. In the medium term, however, our entire
motorsport department will also benefit in other areas from the
creation of new motor racing components.”
Customer Racing to be strengthened as an integral pillar.
Alongside the works involvement in the FIM Superbike World
Championship and the FIM Endurance World Championship, Customer Racing
also forms a fundamental pillar of BMW Motorrad’s motorsport
activities. All over the world, BMW riders from official and private
teams claim titles, race wins and podiums in their championships. Uwe
Geyer is now responsible for this area as the new Head of BMW Motorrad
Customer Racing, in addition to his role as Marketing Director.
“Customer racing is fundamental to BMW Motorrad,” stresses Geyer. “We
develop our projects for all our customers around the world. Not just
those who ride on the streets, but also for those customers who want
to compete with our products from the Supersport segment – whether
professionally, semi-professionally, or as a hobby. The race package
we offer is developed at the highest level of production-based
motorsport, in the Superbike World Championship. We then use this race
package in a version adapted to meet the customer’s requirements in
local Superbike series. This way, every customer benefits from the
experience that our development team gains at the highest level,
adapted to the respective regulations of the local series.”
One important aspect is the availability of parts for all customers.
Both the Superstock and Superbike versions of engines can be acquired
directly through BMW Motorrad Motorsport. All other racing components
are available via distribution partner alpha Racing. Parts planning,
the production of parts and delivery times will be optimised in the
future. When it comes to electronics, Customer Racing is supported by
the global BMW Motorrad Race Support network. BMW Motorrad will also
continue to invest in this support.
New contact partner for the media.
As of August 2023, Dominic Thönnes will replace Benedikt Torka in his
role as Spokesperson for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. You can find his
contact details in the signature.
