Martin confirmed with BMW in Sport Bike

From BMW Motorrad Canada

WHITBY, ON -- BMW Motorrad Canada is pleased to announce the addition of Francis Martin to the 2009 BMW Motorrad Canada Motorsport Team.

Martin, hailing from Sherbrooke, QC, is a veteran of the Parts Canada Superbike series having competed with five different teams in the series and claiming the Canadian Open Sportbike Championship in 2002 and reigning as Canadian Superbike Champion in both 1999 and 2005.

“I am delighted to be part of the BMW Motorrad Canada race team,” stated Martin. “I’m itching to get familiar with the BMW racebike as soon as possible – the season can’t start soon enough!”

Both Mike Ferreira and Martin will compete in the revised Parts Canada Superbike Championship aboard the 2009 BMW HP2 Sport, race-developed in the last two years of the previous Canadian Thunder series.

This year sees a heavily revamped landscape for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship with the elimination of the Canadian Thunder and Sport Twin Classes after the withdrawal of Ducati and KTM from the series. This has resulted in major changes to the rules to the former 600cc Sport Bike classes, opening the door for a range of new machinery to participate.

Starting with the 2009 season, twin cylinder motorcycles from Buell and BMW will be allowed to compete in the Sport Bike classes, running to separate weight and horsepower limitations than their 600cc four cylinder opposition.

Chris Duff, Marketing and Race Team manager for BMW Motorrad Canada stated, “As we work toward the possibility of entering superbike racing in Canada in 2010, the opportunity to have a two-time Canadian Superbike Champion on the team for 2009 is an incredible bonus. We are very excited to have Francis on board for this season.

"With Francis teamed up with Mike Ferreira, a former Pro 600 Sportbike Regional Champion and veteran of two Canadian Thunder seasons with BMW, we are looking forward to seeing BMW running up front in the new Pro Sportbike Class.”