We reported earlier that seven-time Canadian superbike champ Jordan Szoke has signed with BMW Motorrad for the 2012 campaign. Well, that just makes him one of 10 Pros and three Amateurs who have so far joined Team BMW. The Mopar Canadian superbike series is starting to look like a BMW spec class!
In the Pro class, Szoke joins Andrew Nelson (former Yamaha, last two seasons with BMW), Kevin Lacombe (best-known for his former Yamaha affiliation), Samuel Proux, Francois Dumas, Marcel Irnie, first-year Pro Bohdi Edie, long-time Honda stalwart Marie-Josée Boucher, Steve ‘Doc’ Walker, and Matt McBride. No word yet on whether former twins ace Rob Busby will be back on the Bimmer he raced in 2011.
In the Amateur ranks, Tim Robbins, Sebastien Tremblay, Simon Hamel, and Steve Hoffarth will be using German equipment.
At this point the only Team Green bike we know about is Tony Stufko, another first-year Pro, who’s passing on several years with Ducati to race a Kawasaki ZX-10R. On the Honda side, Jodi Christie is almost certain to remain with the red team, although it’s not official yet. As for Suzuki, it looks like Alex Welsh will return with his Z-1 Cycle-sponsored GSX-Rs.
The big reason for the mass switch? Cheap bikes and great contingency. BMW has really stepped up its support this season. “The program has generated a ton of interest in the S1000RR this season” says Chris Duff Manager, Motorrad Marketing at BMW Motorrad Canada. “We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this kind of support to so many riders competing in the CSBK series this year.”
Nice title. Been reading my posts on “NosePicker”, have you? 😉