TEAM BMW MOTORRAD GREAT BRITAIN LOOKS FOR YOUNGSTAR BOXERCUP SUCCESS
29 October 2004 - BMW Motorrad GB

The eighth 2004 (and the last-ever) round of the BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup takes place on Sunday 31 October in Valencia, Spain.

Let’s hope the race, which concludes five years of spectacular racing is as competitive as those preceding it. BMW’s R1100 S flat-twins certainly are.

All British eyes will be on the under-21 YoungStar series contenders, especially those representing BMW Motorrad Great Britain – Richard Cooper, Barry Burrell and Calvin Hogan. Richard is currently leading the integrated series with a total of 125 points and is only one race away from being crowned YoungStar champion. If he maintains his advantage and keeps a distance from French rival Guillaume Dietrich, ‘Cooperman’, will win a brand new MINI cooper. Barry is just ten points behind him

YoungStar sensation, Richard, believes that being champion is not just about winning a ‘same’ name car: “The BMW Motorrad BoxerCup is such a rewarding competition,” he said. “When I first heard this season would be the last- ever, I thought it was such a shame because – as well as the fantastic prize of a car – the financial rewards, trophy and status of being a winner is all what it’s about. It is very difficult to accept this is the final year.”

Glorious weather should greet the riders in Valencia this weekend, with temperatures expected to reach within the mid-20s (Celsius). However it is the first time that the twin-cylinder BMW championship has been held at the Spanish circuit, but Team GB BoxerCup Manager, Mark Fisher, is not at all worried and is looking forward to Sunday evening as a night of celebration.

“The general feeling is a mixture of excitement and apprehension. It is the last but most important round that could see either Richard or Barry winning the YoungStar series. However, we are confident. We need to win it – and we expect to win it; and it would be a fantastic finale for the Great Britain team to win something in the last ever BMW Motorrad BoxerCup,” said Mark.

On the track, Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter is already crowned the 2004 BMW Motorrad BoxerCup champion after a stunning run of six podiums from seven races so far. Hinterreiter clinched the title at Brno in August and took with him a new BMW M3 Coupe. But that still leaves Brian Parriott (USA), Roberto Panichi (I) and Markus Barth (D) chasing second place and a brand new BMW Z4 2.2 for the reward. Third placed man after Sunday’s race will take home one of the massively popular BMW R1200 GS motorcycles.

For the BMW R1100 S machines, it will be their last appearances on track in the one make BMW Motorrad BoxerCup after five years of racing that started in Belgium and France in 1999 in advance of the International series. Star riders and thrillingly close races have been the hallmark of the series that has visited Mugello, Daytona, Barcelona, Assen, Donington, Oulton Park, Le Mans, Sachsenring, Brno and lastly Valencia for the final race. 500cc Grand Prix winners such as Mamola, Cadalora, Schwantz and Martinez have all ridden too as guest riders along with many journalists.

Official scheduled times for Valencia

Friday 29 October

16:50 (CET) – First qualifying session

Saturday 30 October

16:50 (CET) – Second qualifying session

Sunday 31 October

16:15 (CET) – International BoxerCup race (18 laps)

Footnote
The 2004 BoxerCup is Richard Cooper’s third year in a series that is staged alongside the elite MotoGP championship (excluding the opening round at the Daytona 200). Richard’s impressive riding ability, while still a teenager, helped him secure a race win in his debut year at Spa. He then repeated the feat at the UK round of the 2003 series at Oulton Park. Last year Richard finished sixth overall – ahead of many world-class riders.

Barry Burrell had his first taste of international racing when he joined the BoxerCup series last year and showed his youthful ability by taking the race lead at the Oulton Park and Assen rounds. Impressively, he also set the lap record at Assen. With 14 championship points, Barry is now third in the BMW YoungStar championship for the “best rider in the series under the age of 21”. The winner will be presented with a Mini Cooper at the end of the series.

ACU Academy graduate, Calvin Hogan is the GB team’s new recruit and has enjoyed his race season testing his precocious racing talent on the international stage.

www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

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