FIRST SEASON APPEARANCE FOR THE BIREL-BMB SYNERGY

15TH WINTER CUP - LONATO, 19-21 FEBRUARY 2010

Exceptional double top ranking for Toman and Cesetti in SKF, positive 2nd place for Barrageig in KF2 and excellent performances in KF3 as well: a good season kickoff for Birel colours and Bmb

Birel pilots could have not done better at the 15th Winter Cup edition in Lonato, the international meeting for SKF, KF2 and KF3 classes, which opened the season last weekend. This well established early international circus competition, which is run by all KF classes top drivers, turned out to be even more interesting than usual, as it was the occasion for testing the recently homologated engines.

As already said, Birel team and BmB not only lived up to expectations, but even did better. In fact, despite the engines homologated by Bmb were at their official debut, leading competitors in all classes were tackled with equal mastery, starting from superb Toman and Cesetti ranking first and second in challenging SKF top class. The pilot from the Czech Republic was the champion, followed by his teammate on the finish line of an exciting race. Belgian driver De Brabander ranked 3rd in front of Ardigò and Kozlinski. Positive results for Birel also from Viganò, whose first day in top class earned him 9th position. KF2, the category in which BMB technicians and tuners play the leading role, was equally successful. The excellent collective results achieved by the pilots racing with BMB engines confirm such feature.

In detail, great attention for Spanish pilot Barrabeig, 2nd according to photo finish behind winner Heche.

Among the weekend's fastest, English pilot Lennox for Birel Motorsport. Unfortunately his Final went wrong due to a contact. And, contact once again spoilt the race for Sorensen (Birel Motorsport) and Waliko (KSB) in KF3.

Despite such incidents, the cadet class greatly benefited from the new BMB engines. For the record, it must be said that Tiihonen's race in KF3 was positive, with ranking very close to the top ten.

Carlo Boscolo, technical manager for BMB, highlights the positive outcome of the first competition of the season: "We were amazed by the results, mainly because the engineers we are collaborating with in the racing sector had not had much time for testing all development stages. This factor clearly shows how our "basic" engine was extremely well conceived. As a matter of fact, this is one of the objectives we set at the beginning: to provide our customers with a really competitive "standard" engine.

A quality that will be decisive for achieving good performances in the single national championships. The work of each tuner should stand as "added value" for a product which is already very competitive.

And, apart from Toman's victory, and from the one that could have been achieved in KF2, and besides the fact that in such category collective performance was generally good, what mainly encourages me is the opportunity to substantially face the new competitive season relying on the same potential the leading competitors can count on.

The first objective has been achieved and we now want to follow this path, aware that competition will be fierce and tough."

Also Birel racing division manager Mariano De Faveri focuses on the positive points of last weekend: " Concerning frames, we know we can now deliver highly competitive technical material in all classes: the innovations introduced on 2010 range have proven effective. We were always fast, with both the official and external teams.

With regards to BMB engines, my opinion is that they could soon become a new landmark in KF2. In fact, in the light of the data gathered during winter testing and this first race, we now believe our potential is absolutely remarkable.

The performances achieved by Barrabeig, Lennox and Basz can only confirm such estimation once again. Also SKF success tells us how well this engine was designed, and I think that the KF3 version will soon be at the top. We have to work hard this year to face the new challenge involving the development of both frame and engine. And no doubt it will also be very stimulating. Let's just hope we run races as successful as this one on loads of other occasions