BMW Motorrad launches fast, light, DOHC Boxer and intends to go racing
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Image Gallery ( 58 images )In race mode the screen provides data about circuit times, maximum revs, top speed or number of gearshifts, for example. The stored data can also be read out with a laptop. In addition there are eight freely programmable LEDs in the upper area of the dashboard that can be used as a rev display or external gearshift light. Like the other functions, the displays are also freely programmable.
Finally, the GP dashboard offers a large number of expansion options. A lap timer with transmission/receiving unit, GPS tracking or datalogger can be connected to a free input.
The fairing of the new HP2 Sport is realized to a large extent in carbon-look and follows the style of the BMW Motorrad motor sport design with white lacquering on the windshield, rear, mudguard and side cover. The engine spoiler carries the two-tone “HP2” lettering. The lattice frame and wheels are lacquered in the BMW Motorrad colour of Motorsport Blue.
Involvement in Road Racing
Racing sport and racing success were inseparably linked with the Boxer motorcycles from BMW for many years prior to WW2, with Georg (”Schorsch”) Meier taking the fabled Kompressor (supercharged) BMW to victory in the 1939 Isle of Man TT, beating the works Nortons on their home ground. Similarly, Ernst Henne took the world motorcycle speed record in 1929 (216.75 km/h) and again in 1937 (279.5 km/h), the latter record standing for almost 14 years.
In post-war racing, “RS-engined” (overhead camshafts powered by bevel drives) boxer machines won countless national and international races in solo and sidecar racing teams with Walter Zeller runner-up in the world 500cc title in 1956 markeing the last success of the official BMW Motorrad works team in solo road racing sport.
Afterwards the RS 500 bevel drive continued to be used for a few years by private teams and BMW remained almost unbeatable for many years in the motorcycle/sidecar combination world championship the world championship a total of 20 times in the category before the two-strokes took over in the mid-seventies.
In 2008 BMW Motorrad will once again line up in superbike racing, taking advantage of the regulation changes which allow larger capacity two and three cylinder machinery to compete against the 1000cc fours of the Japanese factories.
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