Suzuki's Position In MotoGP Is Empty, BMW Is Allegedly Ready To Be A New Filler

BMW team rider on Superbike, Marco Melandri with umbrella girl (Instagram.com)

JAKARTA - MotoGP lost one of the participating teams after Suzuki decided to withdraw at the end of this season. With the departure of the Japanese factory team, it will leave one empty space.

Recently, BMW reportedly wanted to fill the vacant position. Moreover, Dorna Sport as the organizer has allocated the empty slot for the factory team, not satellite or independent.

Quoted from Speedweek.com, Tuesday, Pierer Mobility AG as the holder of the KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS, and R Raymon motorcycle brands intends to fill the position left by Suzuki. However, in fact, MotoGP wants them to be able to prove even more that their KTM RC16 is more competitive.

In addition, another consideration is because KTM has also lowered four motorcycles in the MotoGP event. Then the possibility to fill the empty slot is getting slimmer.

The same source later said that the one with MotoGP prospects was BMW. That's because The Bavarians have been down to the Superbike event since 2009, although so far have not won the title.

During their participation in the Superbike event, BMW has won 13 races, including Marco Melandri 9 times, Chaz Davies 3 times, and Michael van der Mark once.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, the boss of Dorna Sport, said that there is a possibility that a well-known motorcycle manufacturer will come to the MotoGP world championship in the next two or three years.

"The answer is yes," said Ezpeleta, quoted from Speedweek.

"Of course I cannot name the brand. But if a real manufacturer shows interest in the MotoGP World Championship and decides to participate and invest in the long term, we are always open to discussions," added the boss.

The same source also said that one of the BMW bosses who was not named said MotoGP was an event that should be followed.

“For BMW Motorrad and BMW AG, MotoGP always counts. But this depends on the final decision. Karlheinz Kalbfell (BMW Motorsport boss) and Dr. Herbert Diess was eager to join, as was Hendrik von Kuenheim. But they were blocked by BMW AG's board of directors," said a source from Speedweek.

"dr Schramm (Head of BMW Motorrad) definitely wants to enter MotoGP too. It remains to be seen if he will succeed," he added.

If BMW really intends to become a part of MotoGP, the financial costs of participating in this number one motorcycle racing event are also currently in a lower position than 15 years ago. With a budget of 20 million euros or IDR 307 billion, BMW should have been able to join.

The funds were deemed not excessive, because this manufacturer also poured that amount of money to participate in the SBK and EWC (Endurance World Championship) events. Moreover, with the label as the second largest motorcycle manufacturer in Europe, BMW can clearly attract the attention of the world.