BMW Reportedly Developing 450cc Racebike

Italian website Motociclismo.it reports BMW is working on a new 450cc racebike to be used in youth racing series at select rounds other World Superbike Championship and the British Superbike Championship.

According to the report, the new track-only sportbike will use a 450cc single-cylinder engine, likely the Husqvarna-developed version of the engine used in the BMW G450X. The engine will be mounted in an all-new chassis with racing suspension, wheels and carbon fiber fairing.

The new sportbike would be used in a single-spec racing series for young racers from 15-18 years of age, with Motociclismo.it reporting it would be held over six rounds of the WSBK and BSB. This would follow a similar formula to the European Junior Cup which takes place at select WSBK rounds and which, at least for the 2013 season, use the new Honda CBR500R as its racebike.

To keep the series (relatively) accessible, the racebike would be priced around 20,000 euros (US$25,900), which falls in line with the 19,950 euro price tag for the European Junior Cup’s race-ready CBR500R.

Motociclismo.it reports the new series is rumored to start April 5-7 at Brands Hatch, the opening race of the 2013 BSB season. That may not offer enough time for such an ambitious project. A more likely scenario would be a 2014 target, with the new race bike replacing the Honda CBR500R in the European Junior Cup.

Much of the development is reportedly taking place in Italy, and considering Husqvarna’s recent shift in focus towards streetbikes and its home base in Varese, Italy, it’s possible a racebike project may bear the Husky name rather than BMW

[Source: Motociclismo.it]

By Dennis Chung