BMW racebike....and Troy
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:03 pm
BMWs set for Phillip Island: Corser
Robert Grant The Age February 5, 2009 - 4:49PM
Australian World Superbike star Troy Corser is set to spring a surprise on his rivals when the season-opening round gets underway at Phillip Island next month.
Despite saddling up on an untried bike, spearheading BMW's debut in the series, Corser has surprised himself and the other internationals with a series of confident official test runs.
Bad weather in early testing has curtailed his ability to push the new S1000RR but he has managed to run a total of 156 laps with a string of consistent low lap times. "I'm pretty happy and positive about the next time out on the bike," Corser said. "If I had to race the bike tomorrow, I would be happy enough to do it.
"Generally we've gained a lot of useful information for the engineers and technicians during these two days.
"It's been good to be able to do plenty of laps and now I feel very comfortable on the bike and can ride it without thinking about it.
"We found a good set-up for the suspension, both front and rear, improved the balance of the bike, the brakes and made the throttle connection more consistent," he said.
"I did a long run of 24 laps and did good consistent lap times and felt OK at the end."
Corser said he could have ridden faster on race rubber but the team was more intent on testing parts and gathering data.
"We used standard tyres throughout the test but, if conditions had been better and more rubber on the track, I'm sure I could've gone faster," he said.
"That was not the point about these tests though, the point here was to carry on improving the bike and learning as much as we can and I feel pretty happy because we managed that. "We've made big steps here and, although there's still lots of work to do, I'm pretty happy and positive about the next time out on the bike."
Corser is contracted to ride for BMW for the next two years and will join Spaniard Ruben Xaus in BMW's inaugural tilt at the Superbike world championship.
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Robert Grant The Age February 5, 2009 - 4:49PM
Australian World Superbike star Troy Corser is set to spring a surprise on his rivals when the season-opening round gets underway at Phillip Island next month.
Despite saddling up on an untried bike, spearheading BMW's debut in the series, Corser has surprised himself and the other internationals with a series of confident official test runs.
Bad weather in early testing has curtailed his ability to push the new S1000RR but he has managed to run a total of 156 laps with a string of consistent low lap times. "I'm pretty happy and positive about the next time out on the bike," Corser said. "If I had to race the bike tomorrow, I would be happy enough to do it.
"Generally we've gained a lot of useful information for the engineers and technicians during these two days.
"It's been good to be able to do plenty of laps and now I feel very comfortable on the bike and can ride it without thinking about it.
"We found a good set-up for the suspension, both front and rear, improved the balance of the bike, the brakes and made the throttle connection more consistent," he said.
"I did a long run of 24 laps and did good consistent lap times and felt OK at the end."
Corser said he could have ridden faster on race rubber but the team was more intent on testing parts and gathering data.
"We used standard tyres throughout the test but, if conditions had been better and more rubber on the track, I'm sure I could've gone faster," he said.
"That was not the point about these tests though, the point here was to carry on improving the bike and learning as much as we can and I feel pretty happy because we managed that. "We've made big steps here and, although there's still lots of work to do, I'm pretty happy and positive about the next time out on the bike."
Corser is contracted to ride for BMW for the next two years and will join Spaniard Ruben Xaus in BMW's inaugural tilt at the Superbike world championship.
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