BMW, Aprilia Sign Riders for 2011 World Superbike

Henny Ray Abrams | September 22, 2010

BMW and Aprilia announced the signing of one rider each for the 2011 World Superbike Championship, with questions remaining about the second rider on one team, but not the other.Troy Corser will return for a third season aboard BMW’s S 1000 RR as a member of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team. The 38-year-old Australian gave the team its first podium with a third in the second Monza race earlier this year. He backed it up with BMW’s first pole at Misano, which he turned into a third place in the first race. With two rounds remaining, this weekend in Imola and at Magny-Cours the following weekend, he sits 11th in the points standings, two ahead of teammate Ruben Xaus, who’s unlikely to remain with the team.Since joining the series full time in 1995, Corser has 33 wins, 130 podiums, and 43 poles. He won his first world championship aboard a Ducati in 1996 and his second in 2005, giving Suzuki their first and only crown.”It was an easy decision for me to continue with a team where I feel at home,” Corser said in a team press release. “We’re really building something here and I’ve very much enjoyed being part of this project from the beginning.” The 38-year-old, who has recorded two third places – at Monza and Misano – so far this season, adds: “I think we’ve already achieved a great deal together and believe that, with our commitment and resources, we can climb further up the field over the course of the season ahead.”Aprilia Racing confirmed they’d re-signed Brit Leon Camier, 24, for 2011, almost certainly with Max Biaggi as his teammate.The Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team exercised their option for the reigning British Superbike champion who will continue to ride the RSV4 next season.In his first World Superbike season, Camier has three podiums, a third in race two in Assen, a second in the second race at Miller Motorsports Park, and a third in race two in Silverstone.Camier broke his wrist in the previous round at the Nurburgring and will sit out this weekend’s race in Imola. Camier had a surgery to fix the scaphoid and is hopeful of racing in the final round.”I’m truly excited at the thought of being able to continue racing with Aprilia,” Camier said. “I hope that I can take advantage of what I’ve learned this year, setting up a series of tests and trying new set-ups to take a decisive step forward. I have a lot of ideas for the winter and I’ll give my all to make them work in anticipation of next season. The operation on my right wrist went well. I’m doing rehabilitation exercises now and I can’t wait to get back into shape and astride the bike”.