SBK, BMW anger: Dorna and FIM threaten to reject new M 1000 RR chassis

The Munich-based manufacturer has unveiled its new motorcycle, but the "superconcession" chassis is likely to become a headache after questioning raised by the manufacturers in the MSMA. What does BMW risk in case of rejection?

Submitted by Riccardo Guglielmetti on Sat, 11/01/2025 - 11:16

Superbike

BMW

Toprak

ducati

honda

Yamaha

kawasaki

msma

FIM

dorna

Next Wednesday, in Berlin, Toprak and van der Mark will take the veils off the BMW with which they will take to the track in the upcoming World Superbike season. Of course, there is no shortage of anticipation, because we are talking about the defending champion team, whose goal is to confirm the result by aiming for an encore in the championship.

In Germany, however, in addition to the World Championship battle, the top management of the Munich-based manufacturer is grappling with another issue, one that concerns the regulations. As we know, in 2024 BMW launched the latest evolution M 1000 RR on the market, as a result presenting a new homologation.

This implies that, unlike last season, the German motorcycle will no longer be able to take advantage of the superconcessions.

However, there is one aspect that the other manufacturers have not missed and their noses have been put a bit out of joint about it. What is it? Apparently, the M 1000 RR homologated for World SBK 2025 will feature a chassis deployed according to the superconcessions of the past season. Therefore, that component does not correspond to the one on the production model brought to the market.

According to what we have learned, the manufacturers immediately made their move, asking for clarification from Dorna and FIM. The reason is very simple: for Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Bimota, it is not correct that the new BMW can race with a chassis that has the changes adopted in 2024 because of the super concessions. Why is this? Superconcessions were introduced to help struggling teams, allowing them to get closer to more competitive teams. BMW to date has won a virtually dominant title and is no longer relegated to the bottom of the class as it was in 2023.

At the moment the Superbike 2025 regulations have not yet been deliberated and will probably only become official in the coming weeks. The ball is now in the court of FIM and Dorna, who will have to decide whether or not to approve the deployed chassis that BMW will bring to the new bike. In case of a green light no problem, otherwise BMW will have to use the production model, thus reverting to the previous version.

If so, we are convinced that this will certainly not go down well at all in Munich.