We don’t usually do the whole “girl on a motorcycle” pin-up thing here at A&R, but we’ll make an exception for Manuela Raffaeta. Thanks to a certain Italian TV director’s not-so-secret love affair, Manuela rivals Marco Melandri, her boyfriend, for airtime on the WSBK live feed on just about any WSBK weekend. We can understand World Superbike’s obsession with this boxum beauty, as Manuela is not only quite the looker, but she is also a total sweetheart when you talk to her in person.

With her man on a tear in the WSBK Championship with the BMW S1000RR, along with her newfound TV fame, Manuela has also picked up some modeling work with BMW Motorrad, posing this week at the BMW Museum. Classic BMW bikes, modern Italian beauty — what’s not to like? Photos of Manuela standing next Steve McLaughlin’s BMW R90S, after the jump.