Silly season isn’t just an event localized to the MotoGP paddock, and rumors are starting to surface in the World Superbike paddock as well. According to the paddock gossip, Marco Melandri could end up on a factory BMW ride in World Superbike next season, but the intrigue doesn’t stop there.
Part of BMW’s plan is then to have Melandri be their rider of choice when the team makes their predicted jump to MotoGP for the 2012 season. BMW team boss Davide Tardozzi is supposedly the mastermind behind the deal WSBK/MotoGP deal, although nothing seems to be set in stone at this point in time.
When BMW entered World Superbike, they did so with a list of objectives, milestones, and a five-year plan. The team to-date has made good on their goals, and have already podiumed this season. There’s an obvious desire in the BMW camp to win some races, and to be a dominate player in WSBK. 2012 ends BMW’s planned entry into WSBK, and is an opportune time for the Bavarian manufacturer to re-focus its racing efforts on MotoGP and make its entry into the premiere racing class, as the new rules for MotoGP could be advantageous to new entrants.
Tardozzi undoubtedly sees this option, and realizes the team needs to find a rider to make that jump. Melandri is a well regarded rider in the paddock, and his lack of success has been often attributed to the bikes he’s racing on.
As silly season in the MotoGP heats up, and if BMW continues to grow on its success this season, we very well could hear more serious talk about this consideration. Also, as MotoGP heads to Mugello this weekend, and WSBK heads to Misano later in the month, more details will likely come to the surface. More as we get it.
Comments