Ruben Xaus will lead the return of Bimota to racing on the world stage. The long-time
World Superbike competitor will serve as team manager for a 2012 Moto2 campaign, and possible SBK entry.
Bimota looks to Ruben Xaus (seen here in his 2011 Castrol Honda leathers) to pilot its return to racing on the world stage as the company develops a Moto2 and possible SBK entry.
Bimota plans to campaign its HB4 in the 2012 Moto2 series. The Italian firm supplied a chassis in the inaugural Moto2 season, with its best 2010 result a fourth-place finish at Assen, with Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot at the controls.
Bimota’s possible SBK entry will require more development, but the company teases that it is “absolutely open to the possibility that in the not too distant future, the bike could arrive at one round.”
A Bimota SBK wild-card effort would require meeting FIM homologation requirements. The company currently produces the DB8 superbike, which is powered by the Ducati 1198 Twin.
Xaus recently tested the Bimota racing projects, including the DB8, at the Almeria circuit in Spain, saying afterword in a press release: "I've been part of Bimota for a few months and I'm trying to bring my whole experience as a world-known rider. I decided to create a development project, a joint venture with Edo Racing that could allow more flexibility and a faster service so the company can fully concentrate on the planning and prototyping. SBK is at its beginnings. In our recent test at Almeria, we just had to check different solutions about the chassis and from the next step forward we'll get to know better which is our project-competitiveness level."
Bimota boasts a race-winning pedigree in World Superbike and Grand Prix. The first-ever SBK race win was claimed by Bimota – with Davide Tardozzi taking the checkers in Race 1 at Donington on March 4, 1988. The marque would claim seven victories that season, finishing second in the Constructors Championship. The firm also holds a Grand Prix title, with Jon Ekerold snagging the 1980 350cc title aboard a Yamaha TZ350-powered Bimota chassis.
Xaus holds more than a decade of professional racing experience in World Superbike. The Spaniard first contested the World Supersport series in 1997, graduating up to Superbike full-time in 2001 where his best result was title runner-up in 2003 behind factory Ducati teammate Neil Hodgson. Xaus left SBK for a two-year run in MotoGP from 2004-2005. Xaus then returned to SBK with his best results coming aboard the Sterilgarda Ducati privateer, before a crash-filled two-year tenure with BMW and his final season aboard the Castrol Honda.
