Despite the small size of the company, Bimota has shown itself to be a strong contender in the EVO class of the World Superbike Championship. And though none of the company’s results have counted to date, as the Italian brand had failed to meet the initial 125 quota by the start of the 2014 season, Bimota has kept forging ahead.
This is because Bimota got a special dispensation to race the first part of the 2014 WSBK season, as the FIM allowed the company four months from its first race day to meet World Superbike’s initial homologation standards, which is 125 street bikes.
Unfortunately however, even with that extra time, Bimota has been unable to meet the 125 unit volume (only 40 or so machines have been built), and thus is not expected to continue racing the rest of the season.
Part of the issue is that BMW has yet to deliver the remaining S1000RR engines that Bimota needs to meet homologation volume demands, though it should also be mentioned that the Italian company also can’t prove to the FIM that it has purchased the motors from the German company, which would roughly be a $1 million purchase order.
While no official word has come down from Dorna or the FIM, and Bimota missed its four-month window a few days ago according to the rulebook, we all know that WSBK rules are more like guidelines when it comes to Italian companies. Word is that Bimota will have an official inspection this time next week, where a more official announcement is expected as well.
What all this means for Alstare Racing, and its riders Ayrton Badovini and Christian Iddon, remains to be seen, though the Belgian squad could remain in the WSBK paddock using different equipment if it so chooses.
Meanwhile, more cynical voices in the paddock would suggest that Bimota has taken advantage of the World Superbike Championship, and had no intentions of meeting homologation numbers.
Instead, the company used the valuable exposure through the sport (namely via TV), to help the brand’s relaunch after its recent acquisition.
We will likely know more in that regard when World Superbike returns from its summer break, and heads to Jerez, Spain for its third-to-last round of the season on September 7th.
Source: Motociclismo.it & GPOne; Photo: © 2014 Scott Jones / Photo.GP – All Rights Reserved
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