BMW Motorrad has today announced it will only run one team in the 2013 World Superbike Championship which will be overseen by the current BMW Italia outfit, with riders and staff to be confirmed at a later date.

The Italian team will be responsible for the race and test team, plus chassis development, while BMW itself will continue to evolve the S1000RR engine. This leaves no room for Alpha Technik, whose contract to operate the factory team will be allowed to run out.

“Our decision represents a commitment by BMW Motorrad to motor sports. We have developed this commitment from a position of strength. The Superbike World Championship will continue to be the right platform for BMW Motorrad next year to demonstrate our expertise as a manufacturer of sports motorcycles in close proximity to customers. The new structure with the focus on one racing team is lean and efficient, the concept is targeted and logical. We are looking forward to being in a position to develop the existing structures in Munich and Milan," said Stephan Schaller, head of BMW Motorrad.

“At this point, I would like to express my thanks to Bernhard Gobmeier who successfully restructured BMW Motorrad Motorsport and achieved the first victories in the Superbike World Championship. I am confident that he and his team will have celebrated more victories by the end of the season. Naturally, our decision will also exert an influence on our partnership with alpha Racing. We have celebrated successes together and moved the team forward. We have a number of challenges ahead for the rest of the season and we will be working with alpha Racing to master them in a dedicated and professional approach.”