SBK Race Report

The BMW World Superbike team had some up and down experiences at Phillip Island during the opening round of the 2010 WSBK season. The team is now working on getting both riders and their S1000RR Superbikes ready for Round 2; the first European-based round of the season which is to be held at Portimao.

Davide Tardozzi, team manager for the German-based squad, is currently in Spain with the test team, at Valencia, and met with factory rider Ruben Xaus recently.

Ruben was ruled out of the Australian races after the effects of four practice crashes on his mind and body, but Tardozzi confirmed that he is on course for a return at Portimao.

Davide Tardozzi Speaks...

"The main issue at this moment is to have Ruben on form in Portimao," confirmed Tardozzi, who has been Xaus's team manager in the past, as well as in the BMW set-up in 2010. "We are working on that, it is my priority so far. Ruben is not so bad so far."

"I am in Spain now and I spoke to him here. I think Ruben still thinks he can be fast and do well, and I have seen he is very well in these two days, so I think he will be ready for Portimao."

"On the technical side we will have another step on the bike," said Tardozzi. "We are making progress step by step, not looking for a huge step. You can't pass from seventh to first immediately; you first have to be consistently close to the top guys. Houses are built stone-by-stone."

The BMW S1000RR will have more technical updates in Portugal but for Tardozzi improvements must still come gradually, to ensure a more consistent degree of competitiveness.