During test runs in Barcelona, Wilbers BMW Racing riders Florian Alt and Marco Fetz broke the 300 km/h barrier. Although the first two IDM Superbike 1000 events were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team has its hands full.
The new BMW M 1000 RR ridden by 24-year-old title contender Florian Alt has about 220 horsepower and a required minimum weight of 170 kilograms in the Superbike class. Rising star Marco Fetz, who is 20 years old, rides the previous model, the S 1000 RR, also known as the K67. To meet the minimum weight requirement, 2.8 and 2.3 kilograms, respectively, had to be added back to the stripped-down motorcycles.
Chief Engineer Burkhard Stember and his team have enhanced both BMW models with the company’s proprietary suspension components. These include the rear shock absorber, the closed-cartridge front fork, the blue-anodized outer tube, and the black-anodized axle mount. With this special Wilbers design, even amateur racers and sporty riders can get their hands on these components.
There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in the works for the planned IDM season opener. “That’s why we’re not burying our heads in the sand,” says team boss Benny Wilbers. “The organizer managed to put on at least a few races last year. Let’s hope there are more this year.” Wilbers suspects, however, that “the coronavirus problem isn’t over yet.”
But there’s no sign of boredom. “Three days ago, the second BMW M 1000 RR was delivered to our facility in Nordhorn,” reports Burkhard Stember. “It’s currently sitting in the workshop as a bare frame, and we’re already in full swing with the rebuild. We’re also overhauling all the engines for the Superbikes so they can be sealed in time for the start of the season. We’re all really looking forward to the races. The disappointment over the canceled season opener was understandably huge. We hope things will get moving soon.”