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SBK, BMW and the problem of the failed superconcession chassis: only one way to get it back

Dorna and FIM have rejected the chassis with which BMW want to participate in World Superbike. Is the matter definitely closed or not? There is the precedent of Honda 

SBK: BMW and the problem of the failed superconcession chassis: only one way to get it back

The news of these last hours, reported last night, is that in the next World Superbike Championship BMW will have to use the chassis of the production bike, presented last November at EICMA. This is news that in some ways should not generate much of a stir, if we especially consider what is the nature of Superbike. It' s just too bad that the goal of the Munich-based manufacturer was to take to the track with the chassis it deployed in 2024 thanks to Superconcessions.

However, Dorna and FIM have rejected this idea and the German manufacturer will therefore be called upon to backtrack despite anger and disappointment at this decision taken by the Organizer and the Federation.

The fact remains that the superconcession chassis, used last season, will not be something to be thrown away entirely, because the regulations are very clear on the matter. Should BMW struggle again on the track, i.e., as it did until a year ago, the regulations would in fact allow it to rely again on Superconcessions, actually intervening on certain points such as the chassis.

Obviously BMW are not hoping this will happen, because it would mean a lack of competitiveness on the track, a far cry from what was seen in 2024.

The fact remains that last season one team found itself in some ways in the same situation, namely Honda. In fact, in Japan they homologated the new CBR 1000 RR, which had in fact taken part in the 2024 World Superbike Championship with a superconcession chassis, that is, developed compared to the production model.

In that case, compared to what happened with BMW, Dorna and FIM gave the green light to use it, because Honda was a bike in great difficulty, as well as relegated to the bottom of the class. BMW's situation, on the other hand, is quite different if we consider the last World Championship dominated by Toprak with the M 1000 RR, not forgetting van der Mark's victory as well as the podiums to which Gerloff's were added.

In order to understand how much the non-use of the superconcession chassis will affect BMW's performance, we only need to wait a few more days: in fact, at Jerez, on January 22-23, there will be the first test bench.

 

Translated by Julian Thomas

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