CP on DVD - Stunting for Life

When it comes to freestyle riding, Chris Pfeiffer is in a league of his own. Riding a BMW F 800, the 38-year-old from Halblech in Germany has won the last three consecutive European Stunt Riding Championships, the last two Indoor Streetbike Freestyle World Championships, and the world-famous Stuntwars competition in the USA.

The DVD features over 80 minutes of action from Chris’s travels, shows, sessions and competition appearances. For those who have only seen still photographs of Chris in action, the DVD brings to life all the tension, sounds, bravery, strength and skill involved in perfecting a new trick, or performing a gravity-defying combo of stunts designed to thrill and entertain in equal measures. One of the many high points of the DVD is watching the different cultural reactions of people all over the world to his shows, from the polite applause received in Japan to the near hysteria he experienced from the crowds who watched him perform in Nigeria.

CP – Stunting For Life will initially be on sale from 1 December in BMW Motorrad dealerships all over the world, priced at €29.90 ($24.95 in the USA) or local equivalent. It can also be purchased after this date from the online shop at the www.chrispfeiffer.com website or from www.throttleentertainment.com (USA buyers). After this preliminary period, it will go on general sale at all quality mass-market outlets.

For more information, and to register your interest for the forthcoming CP – Stunting for Life DVD, please visit www.chrispfeiffer.com website, where a DVD trailer can be viewed.

Dakar Dreams and Dramas

The 31st edition of the Dakar Rally is now over and saw 113 riders, 13 quad bikers, 91 car teams and 54 truck teams finish the first ever Latin American version of the famous rally. Victory in the motorcycle category went to Spanish rider Marc Coma, who led from start to finish, while French riders Cyril Despres and David Frétigné rounded off the other two podium places.

Among the 235 riders who started the gruelling 16-day, 9,500-kilometre rally were six BMW riders from all over the world, hoping as ‘privateers’ to make it to the finish line of arguably the world’s toughest motorcycle race. Several of these riders bravely chose to prepare rally versions of the new BMW G 450 X to race in this first ever Dakar on South American soil.

Portuguese rider Pedro Bianchi Prata was the most successful of all the BMW riders, finishing in a fantastic 30^th position after more than two weeks of intense racing. Also making it to the finish line in Buenos Aires was ‘local’ rider Andrès Memi. Andrès is the Chief Instructor at the new BMW Enduro Park in Argentina and took the brave decision to participate in the rally with a G 450 X. The 39-year-old started racing at the age of 14, but this was his first ever Dakar Rally and he finished in a creditable 88^th place. Being one of the four ‘local’ riders that made it to the finish, Andrès helped generate significant media coverage for BMW and the new G 450 X. Two riders that weren’t fortunate enough to make it to the finish line on their G 450 X BMWs in Argentina were Portuguese rookie Luis Ferreira and Frenchman Hugo Payen.

Two BMW G 650 Xchallenge riders also travelled to South America to participate in this inaugural Dakar in Argentina and Chile. Sixty-two-year-old Dutchman Pierre Karsmakers had his Dakar dream end on day four, when a stone was flicked up and lodged between the rear swingarm and rear wheel sprocket of his rally bike, destroying the carrier that holds the rear sprocket. As this part normally doesn’t wear, Pierre had no spare with him, so his rally came to a frustrating and premature end. There was better news for ‘honorary’ Englishman, Simon Pavey, who also rode a modified G 650 Xchallenge and celebrated his seventh Dakar participation. The hard-riding Australian – who is also a BMW UK off-road riding instructor – crossed the line in 68^th place after taking on the deserts and mountains of South America to reach the finishers’ podium.

Fly, ride and then RawHyde

If the idea of flying to the USA, renting a BMW and then riding into the mountains above Los Angeles to participate in some excellent off-road tuition appeals, then your California dream could well come true, courtesy of a new, approved West Coast BMW off-road training centre: RawHyde Adventures, of Castaic in southern California, will serve as one of nine factory-authorized off-road training centres worldwide. BMW will initially provide 12 GS-model motorcycles (F 650 GS, F 800 GS and R 1200 GS) for the training centre.

The new and ‘official’ BMW training programme is known as the BMW Off-road Academy and the 2009 dates are Feb 20-22; Mar 20-22; Apr 17-19; May 8-10; Jun 19-21; and Jul 24-26. BMW’s off-road training course is open to all licensed motorcyclists who want to explore the road where the pavement ends. The cost for the two-and-a-half day course is $1,295. The course, including the Base Camp Alpha Adventure, will cost $1,890. For further details about the training school, visit the www.bmwoffroadacademy.com website.

Troy talks business

Troy Corser is one of the most successful motorcycle racers in recent history. In his long and illustrious career, he has won the Australian Superbike Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship and has twice won the World Superbike Championship, stepping on to the podium an incredible 128 times – 33 of which have been on the top step. In 2009, the 37-year-old is riding for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team in its debut World Superbike Season and early signs show that the Australian has quickly got to grips with the S 1000 RR factory race bike.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision to join BMW Motorrad Motorsport because it is a great opportunity to help a new manufacturer in World Superbikes,” Troy reveals. “I bring experience, the skills to develop a bike and the ability to work with Ruben Xaus so that we can develop the bike more quickly. BMW Motorrad Motorsport wanted me to be part of the team and they were happy for me to bring in some experienced technicians, and that has been a benefit for all of us.” 

Indeed, results so far this season have highlighted that despite being newcomers to the championship, BMW Motorrad Motorsport are reaping the reward for implementing extensive planning, possessing superb technical expertise and employing two immensely talented riders. At the first round of the championship in Phillip Island – BMW’s first ever appearance in the World Superbike Championship – Corser set the fastest lap of race one, ultimately crossing the line in eighth position. Corser comments: “At Phillip Island, the chassis was working well, the balance of the bike was good and it also felt stable. The engine felt strong - on top speed and acceleration. Considering how little track time we have had on the bike, it felt comfortable. The bike’s base is good, but of course there is room for improvement.” According to Corser, there is no secret to developing a new race package. The answer is simple – hard work. “I start by trying different things, comparing telemetry with my previous knowledge. Then there is a lot of trial and error as it is an all-new bike. This is a clean start, so everything is worth trying out."