Thursday, 02 September 2010 16:06 by Claudio Porrozzi

It is more than 500km from Monaco to Adenau, the city close to the Nurburgring, but this is still BMW's home race. It's in Germany, after all.

BMW will be using the occasion to try and change the track their season, and their time in WSBK, has been on thus far.  Despite entering the series at the same time as Aprilia, the German team, as opposed to their Italian counterparts, is far from fighting for a title.

They are currently sixth (second from last) in the manufacturers standings, the same position where they finished in last year's championship.  Behind them is only the lowly Kawasaki.

Their top rider, Troy Corser, has managed just two podiums this year (at Monza and Misano), putting him tenth in the standings with 155 points.  Worse is his teammate Ruben Xaus in 14th from 69 points.

Recent weeks have seen changes amongst the technical staff of the German team, with more moves possible in the near future.   The question of their second rider is still up in the air as well.

With Troy Corser confirmed for next year, the team are waiting on a decision from Marco Melandri. The Italian has a contract in hand, but he is waiting to see what happens with the final MotoGP seats.  Currently riding for Team Gresini, he is apparently also being considered by Yamaha.  "Macho" has warmed to the idea of riding for BMW, but if he does make the move to WSBK, he wants to be sure he will be riding for a competitive team.

Alternatives to Melandri would be Michel Fabrizio (not seen favorably by the Germans), James Toseland and Eugene Laverty.

What has recently emerged however - despite firm denials from Davide Tardozzi - is a difference of opinion between the Italian and German team members. The strategic sporting decisions are being made by Berthold Hauser, Director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, by Rainer Baumel, Project Manager, and Tardozzi, team manager, with the three not always seeing eye to eye.  The former two, important figures within the German company, don't have a lot of experience in the world of racing (and in Superbike), while the Italian, the most recent arrival and consider by many to be the "savior" of the team, can boast a long and successful career in the series.

The next few days should tell us more about who's ideas will prevail.