2004 Will be the Last Season for the Successful Brand Cup with the BMW R 1100 S

08/17/2004

Munich. The 2004 season will be the last season for the successful BMW Motorrad BoxerCup for the time being. Since 1999 the exciting races with the large capacity flat twin boxers on the basis of the R 1100 S have been thrilling the fans of the white and blue brand. The bikes even went as far afield as Daytona where the BoxerCup was held as part of the fringe program of the 200 miles of Daytona. Two very popular replica models for road use based on the race bike have also been available since 2003 in a limited edition.

"It was clear right from the start that a brand cup would only attract widespread attention over a limited period of time", is how BMW motor sports director, Berthold Hauser explains the termination of the racing series at the end of this season. "We have achieved all our objectives. We have shown how fast the boxer can go on the racetrack and have proved the sports-oriented side of our brand to a wide public. The throaty sound of the flat twins and the thrilling duels and battles for position are what got the fans really excited", Hauser continues.

Every season it was never clear right until the last race of the season who was going to take overall victory. In the current season, however, it will be hard to snatch victory from Thomas Hinterreiter but the battle for positions two and three is still raging between Markus Barth and Stephane Mertens. So once again it will be exciting right until the last race on 30th October in Valencia as part of the Spanish MotoGP.

Thus the BoxerCup will end in its 4th international year (in 1999 and 2000 it was carried out as a national event in Belgium and France). As part of the MotoGP tour, up to 100000 spectators followed the races which offered nail biting and hair rising excitement. And so we can apply the wise saying to the BoxerCup that one should stop while the going is good.

Currently it is completely open how BMW Motorrad will continue its motor sports commitment. "At the moment there are a lot of interesting ideas but there is no rush and above all there is no need for making decisions", comments motor sports director Hauser.